Sri Suryanarayana temple Arasavalli

” Harshavilli purivasam , Chayosha Padminiyutham Suryanarayanam Devam Nowmi Sarvartha Dayakam “

A sloka on Lord Surya narayana

The Ancient Hindu Temple of Sun God  – “Lord Suryanaryana Swamy Temple” located at Arasavalli in Srikakulam Town, Andhra Pradesh, India. This is one of unique and most visited Pilgrimage Temples in India. The Original name is Harshavalli which means Abode of Joy.

As we went on 3rd week of Maasi maasam (mid February) month being it a Sunday the temple was overcrowded . Some said jathra, a temple official told us as the Lord gave dharshan at this place on that auspicious day .We took Rs. 500 ticket per couple for quick dharshan .

Legend says that one day Indra, celestial Lord , came to worship  Lord Shiva in the ancient Uma Rudra Koteswara Swamy Temple near Srikakulam, a sub Temple of the famous Srikurmam Shrine. He came in very late and Since it was in- approppriate to seek Darshan after the closure of the Temple, he was refused to get an entry by Nandeeswara, guarding the Shiva Temple. Filled with Arrogance and being ignorant of  the supreme Power of Lord Shiva, Indra began arguing with Nandeeswara for an entry , resulting in a scuffle. Angered at this, Nandeeswara pricked up Indra in his horns and threw him away.

Indra fell unconscious at a distance of 2 yojanas to the east of Uma Rudra Koteswara Temple . After awakening, Indra realized the Supreme Power of Lord Shiva . To get relief from his Sins, He consulted the Sages and was told about possible Planetary related Evil influences behind the Wrong doing. So, to get  relieved, he prayed the Chief  Planet of Nava Grahaas, The sun God – Another Hindu Mythological Demi God, for relieving him of the sins. Sun God appeared before him and advised Indra to construct a Temple for him , by digging at the place where he fell. He did the same and found an Idol of Sun God, which he installed in the Temple at Arasavalli . Later Indra performed all the Rituals related to relief from Planet related Evil  Effects (Graha Shanthi) and thereafter went to the Temple of  Uma Rudra Koteswara Swamy to have the Darshan of  Lord Shiva and attained Peace Of Mind.  This Temple is now the famous Sun God Temple at Arasavalli (Previously known as Harshavalli, meaning Pleasure) . The Pond which was formed at this area,  eventually came to be known as Indra Pushkarini .

In this temple the main diety is Lord Surya Narayana along with His consorts Usha chaya and Padmini . Mathara and Pingala the Dwarapalakas in sitting posture on the each side little downwards to the main diety and high up are the two divine saints , sanaka and sanadana holding ‘Chamaram'( manual fan ). The Sun God is depicted as riding over a chariot with 7 horses , drawn by Anura, the Radhasarathy . All these figures are exquisitely carved out of a single black finely polished granite stone.

There is also Lord Shiva with his consort Goddess Parvathi with one side Lord Vinayagar and other side Goddess Mahisasuramardini within and Navagrahas in the outer pragharam .

The pillars of the temple are being painted pink . The entrance Gopuram is like more of a Buddhist temple.

In front of the main entrance
This is the exit and being the entrance of the pink corridor
On the way to our bus
The pink corridor of the temple

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thirunangur 11 Divyadeshams

Image
11 Cholanadu Divya Desams in and around Thirunangur near Seerkazhi. Deities from each of the Thirunangur temples go out on a street procession on Garuda Vahanam and come together at Mani Mada Koil in Thai maasam (mid January) Sthalapuranam Angered at not being invited for the Yaagam conducted by Parvathi’s father Dakshan , Lord Shiva performed the Rudra Thaandavam (dance) in a place called Ubaya Cauvery (between Cauvery in the South and Mani River in the North) , a few kms South East of Seerkazhi . So aggressive was his performance that for every hair that fell down on the ground, a new form of Lord Shiva emerged. And very quickly 11 forms of Lord Shiva were each performing the Rudra Thaandavam. Sensing a possible damage to the world as a result of Lord Shiva’s fury , Lord Vishnu appeared here before Shiva as Paramapatha Naathan . Softened by the presence of Lord Vishnu , Rudra requested Vishnu appear in just as many forms . Lord Vishnu is said to have acceded to this request and provi...
Read more

Nava Dwaraka

My recent Nava dwaraka trip along with Bav nagar koliyac  Nishkalang Mahadev beach temple and Diu and Daman Gangeshwar Porbandar Kirti mandir and many other sub temples near Somnath , old and new Somnath temple and Nageshwar jyothirlingam. First day we saw  Kankroli Dwaraka here the deity is Lord Krishna named Dwarakadesh. The significance of the temple here is every 1 hour the temple will be closed for 15 minutes to decorate the Lord and kept open for an hour and again the same thing repeats and it's considered as Shyam bogh dharshan. We were lucky enough to see the arathy dharshan of the Lord Dwarakadesh. The next dwaraka was at Nathdwara named Srinath Dwarakadesh . In both the temples they follow the same Shyam bogh dharshan. Here a closed room with wooden doors with silver carvings are done and this room was considered sacred as Lord krishna himself has played here with his friends and there is a Balakrishna shrine too inside the temple complex. Both these temples a...
Read more

Pazhayaseevaram Lakshmi Narasimhar temple

Image
Srimat Payonidhi Nikethana Chakra Pane, Bhogeendra Bhoga Mani Rajitha Punya Moorthe, Yogeesa Saswatha Saranya Bhabdhi Potha, Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam Oh Great God Lakshmi Nrsimha, Who lives in the ocean of milk, Who holds the holy wheel as weapon, Who wears the gems of the head, Of Adhisesha as ornaments, Who has the form of good and holy deeds, Who is the permanent protection of sages, And who is the boat which helps us cross, This ocean of misery called life, Please give me the protection of your hands. Pazhaiya Seevaram is located on the  Kanchipuram – Chengalpattu State Highway SH 58 and it is about 16 km from Chengalpattu and about 20 km from Kanchipuram.  While going from Chengalpattu, one can reach Pazhaya Seevaram 5 kms before Walajabad. There are lots of buses available from Kanchipuram to this Temple. Nearest Railway Station is located at Kanchipuram, Chengalpet and Walajabad. Nearest Airport is located at Chennai. After having our dharshan at Padalathr...
Read more