Sun Temples In India - Part 3 To Part 08

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The Bhramanya Dev Temple at Unao in Madhya Pradesh,India Part 3/Part8

 

The Brahmanya Dev (Baramju) temple dedicated to the Sun is located at

Unao near Jhansi in Madhya Pradesh. It is a well visited temple.

Local belief is that worshippers find relief from ailments such as

blindness and leprosy and other skin diseases. The stone image of the

Sun God stands here on a brick platform covered with black plates.

Twenty one triangles representing the 21 phases of the sun are

engraved in the shrine.There is a protective brass cover for the

image. Sunday is the special day of worship. This temple was

patronized by the Peshwas and by the ruler of Datia, a nearby town.

 

Sun Temple at Surya Pahar in Assam, India Part 04/08

 

This relatively modern Sun temple in the vicinity of the Surya Pahar

Hill near Goalpara in Assam. This temple enshrines a circular stone

tablet having 12 images of Aditya in a circle with an image of

Kashyapa the father of Aditya in the center. Surya is said to be the

son of Aditi and Kashyapa (Prajapati or the creator of beings). Each

of the Adityas os one faced and two armed. According to the Puranas

the Adityas are 12 in number. The text Kalika Purana mentions Surya

mountain, the perpetual abode of the sun. Sun worship was present in

early Assam. Surya Pahad is referred to as a virtual gallery of

archeological remains. At the foot of the hill, covering a vast area

there are found a good number of Siva lingams cut out of stone.In

addition, Surya Pahar ruins contain many rock cut figures of artistic

merit.

 

Suryanaar Temple near Kumbhakonam in Tamilnadu, India Part 05/08

 

This ancient temple dedicated to the Sun is located near Kumbhakonam

in Tamilnadu. Kumbhakonam and its surroundings abound in huge

temples. This well known temple enshrines the Sun - Surya, Kasi

Viswanatha and Visalakshi, and the other eight celestial bodies

namely Chandran, Angarakan, Budhan, Brihaspati, Sukran, Saniswaran,

Rahu and Ketu. An elaborate worship protocol is prescribed for

pilgrims visiting here, starting with worship at the shrine of

Ganesha, culminating in circumambulating the temple nine times. This

temple built in the Dravidian style is over eight hundred years old

and was patronized by the Imperial Chola Kings. This temple is

located in close proximity to Kanjanur, and Tirumangalakkudi housing

1200 year old temples to Shiva. Suryanaar Koyil has acquired a lot of

popularity in recent times, and is one of the pivotal points in the

Navagaraha Stala Tour organized by the Tamilnadu Tourist Development

Corporation.

 

Suryanarayanaswamy temple at Arasavilli in Andhra Pradesh, India

Part 06/08

 

This is a shrine of the Sun in a well preserved state. The temple

dates back to the 7th century and a Kalinga king is said to have

constructed it. The image of worship is a 5 ft tall one of black

granite holding lotus buds - flanked by Usha and Chhaya. Padmapani is

the name of this Sun God - padma stands for wisdom usha and chhaya

stand for eternity. This shrine is located near Srikakulam in Andhra

Pradesh.

 

The Sun Temple at Modhera - Gujarat, India Part 07/08

 

This is a grand temple to the Sun God concieved and built in 1026.

As in the Sun Temple at Konark, this temple was so designed that the

rays of the Sun would fall on the image of Surya at the time of the

equnoxes. Whatever remains of this temple is grand; the shikharas are

notaby absent but the Toranas in the frontal halls, and the intricate

carvings in the exterior speak of the splendour of this shrine, which

still is home to the Modhera dance festival featuring dance

celebrities in performance in a natural setting. Ruins of the sun

temple at Modhera in Gujarat show a lot of Magha influence. The walls

of the temple have representations of the sun god wearing a peculiar

West Asian belt and boots as in the Sun temple at Gaya. Mention must

also be made of the huge tank in front of the temple with its

multitude of images.

 

The Sun Temple at Konarak, Orissa, India Part 08/08

 

The grandest and best known of all Sun temples in India is the Konark

temple in Orissa. This dates back to the 13th century and it

represent the highest point in Orissan temple architecture. Konark is

situated 20 miles to the north east of Puri. The word Konark means

corner sun.

 

The black pagoda at Konarak is a grand and magnificient temple in the

form of the suns charriot drawn by seven horses marking the 7 days of

the week. The 24 huge wheels, magnificiently carved and decorated,

mark the hours of the day. This temple was envisioned by the Ganga

ruler Narasimha Deva and it was not fully completed. The main idol of

the Sun God on which the suns rays fall in the morning is said to

have been removed by some Portuguese navigators. The temple now

comprises only of the sabhamandap and the natamandir. The main temple

crumbled down many years ago.

 

SURYA

 

1. Temperate and tropical Sun

2. He has seven horses for his chariot-

He is always on the move

3. Brass Uruli with Pink Lotuses -

His favourite flower

4. Rangoli-Kolam with Ruby Beads

5. Bowl with wheat cereals

6. Plate with Erukku sticks for fire

7. Growth- Vegetables,Fruits,Trees, Forests

8. A pond of Red Lotuses

9. His wife Chaya (shade) sits at his back

10.Aruna sits in front(dawn)

11.Centre-piece - Surya in Metal work

12.Rice with husk is the offering to him

13.Shiva is Primal God. Fire is his symbol

 

1.The Surya God rides a chariot drawn by Seven Horses. He has a halo

of fire around him.

 

2. In both his hands he carries a lotus.

 

3. Aruna the Dawn is his charioteer.

Chaya his dark wife sits behind him.

 

4. The 12 lamps represent the twelve

Adityas or Months of the Year like the spokes of the wheel of

time.They are :-

 

1. Mitra-the friend ,

2. Varuna- the one who Encompasses

3. Aryaman-Destroyer of foes ,

4. Daksa-the skilful

5. Bhaga-the giver ,

6. Amsa- the liberal ,

7. Tvastr-The Shaper ,

8. Savitr- the vivifier,

9. Pusan- the Nourisher ,

10.Saktra- the mighty,

11.Vivisvat-the Resplendent ,

12.Vishnu- The pervader.

 

1. Early morning Gayatri Mantra-Salutation to him

2. Salutation in a yogic way of Surya namaskar

3. The Suns Primal Deity is Agni- God of fire

4. His Favourite Colour is Yellow or Orange

5. He is the Guru of Hanuman

6. Surya's Festival is Pongal, the day-that celebrates the harvest

 

Jai Sai Ram

Swamy Mahadevan

Bow to Shri Sai-Peace be to all