Sun rays touch Sun God temple deity at Arasavalli for seven minutes

Srikakulam: Sun rays illuminated presiding deity of the Sun God temple at Arasavalli on Wednesday morning during sunrise. Thousands of devotees thronged to witness the phenomenal event. The rays fell on the temple idol of Sri Suryanarayana Swamy at Arasavalli in Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh for seven minutes.

Devotees believe that darshan of sun god when sunrays directly touch the presiding deity will keep them healthy. The sun rays touched the temple idol on two occasions in October first week and last week of March in 2019. In each incident, sun rays touched the temple idol for three days consecutively during the sun's movement towards North and South.

At first instance, the sun rays fell on the Dwajasthambam passing through the 'gopuram' of the temple and touched the diety's feet of Sun God temple for seven minutes.

Temple officials and staff have made all arrangements to provide hassle-free darshan of the temple idol during the celestial event.

Sunrays staying for more than four minutes is the rare event.

The revenue of the temple is increasing every year. In 2018-19 the revenue of the temple increased to Rs 6 crore.

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly speaker Tammineni Sitharam who recently visited the temple said that surroundings of the temple would soon get a face lift.

Kalinga ruler Devendra Varma of Odisha built the temple in 7th century AD.

The Sun god temple was built in the 7th Century AD by the Kalinga rulers Devendra Varma of Odisha. The object of worship is a black granite image of Surya holding lotus buds, with his consorts Padma, Usha and Chaaya. Surya is on a 7-horse driven chariot. Inscriptions say that Aditya Vishnu Sarma and Bhanu Sarma the Kalinga rulers made donations. Devotees from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and other neighbouring States visit the temple and offer prayers particularluy during March and October.