Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
The Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple at Arasavalli, on the edge of Srikakulam town in Andhra Pradesh, is one of the very few ancient temples in India where the Sun God is still worshipped in daily, living tradition. It is counted among the country's most important Surya temples, and devotees come here seeking health, healing – especially relief from eye and skin ailments – and the blessings of the Lord who gives light and life to the whole world.
Main Deity
The presiding deity is Lord Suryanarayana Swamy. The beautiful idol, carved from a single black stone, shows the Sun God holding lotuses, with his consorts Usha, Chhaya and Padmini, standing on his chariot with his charioteer Aruna and the seven horses that carry him across the sky.
The Miracle of the Sun's Rays
The temple is famous for a wonderful sight that occurs twice a year – for a few days in March and again in early October, around the times of the equinoxes. Just after sunrise, the first rays of the sun pass through the temple gateways and fall directly on the feet of the idol for a few minutes. Thousands of devotees gather to witness this moment, seen as the Sun God's own worship of his image. The exact days and timing vary slightly each year and depend on a clear sky, so please check with the temple before planning a visit.
Sthala Puranam
According to the Puranas, the idol of Surya here was installed by Sage Kashyapa, father of the Sun God, for the welfare of humanity. A popular local legend also links the temple with Lord Indra: having been struck down at the nearby Shiva temple, Indra prayed to the Sun God and was healed, and in gratitude he installed the image of Surya here. The temple tank, Indra Pushkarini, is said to have been dug by Indra with his thunderbolt (vajra), and devotees bathe in it before darshan.
History and Architecture
The temple's origins are traditionally traced to the 7th century, to King Devendra Varma of the Eastern Ganga dynasty that ruled Kalinga. Over the centuries the shrine was damaged and rebuilt, and much of the present structure dates from renovations in the 18th century. Built in the Kalinga style, with a curvilinear tower similar to the great temples of Odisha, it reflects the region's close cultural ties with Kalinga.
Festivals
- Ratha Saptami (January–February): the birthday of the Sun God and the grandest festival of the temple. Celebrations begin before dawn with abhishekam, special alankarams and the Lord's darshan in his full splendour, and lakhs of devotees arrive from across the Uttarandhra region and Odisha.
- Sun-ray days (March and early October): devotees gather at sunrise to witness the rays touching the idol.
- Sundays: the day of the Sun; many devotees visit and offer Surya Namaskarams and special pujas.
- Maha Shivaratri (February–March) is also observed.
Temple Timings
- The temple is generally open from early morning until midday and again in the evening.
- On Ratha Saptami the temple opens before dawn; please check the temple's official channels for current timings.
How to Reach
By Road: Arasavalli is about 1 km from Srikakulam town. APSRTC buses connect Srikakulam with Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Odisha, and autos run to the temple.
By Train: the nearest railway station is Srikakulam Road (Amadalavalasa), about 12 km away.
By Air: the nearest airport is Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram (VTZ), about 75 km away.
Visitor Information
- Dress code: traditional dress is recommended.
- Indra Pushkarini: devotees customarily bathe in or sprinkle water from the temple tank before darshan.
- Sun-ray darshan: arrive well before sunrise on the sun-ray days, as crowds gather early.
- Nearby temples: the Sri Kurmanatha Swamy Temple, Srikurmam, about 13 km away, and the Srimukhalingam temples.
