Today is ‘Ratha Saptami’
The Arasavalli Suryanarayana Swamy Temple is dedicated to Sun God and is located in Arasavalli village, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh. According to inscriptions, King Devendra Varma of the Kalinga dynasty built this temple in the 7th century A.D. Sunday is considered the most auspicious day to worship the Sun God. The Ratha Saptami festival is celebrated here in a grand way.
The Padma Purana mentions that Suryanarayana (Sun God) was born to Sage Kashyap and Aditi. Sage Kashyap installed the Sun God at this place.
According to the legends, during Dwapara Yuga, Balarama, the brother of Lord Krishna, brought the Nagavali River with his plough and built a temple on its banks. All Devas (divine beings) worshipped Lord Rudra Koteshwara and Goddess Uma (Parvati) at this temple.
Indra, the King of Heaven, arrived late and tried to enter the temple. Nandi, the divine gatekeeper, stopped him to avoid disturbing the Lord. Indra insisted on entering, which angered Nandi. Nandi kicked Indra and threw him far away to the east. Indra lost consciousness and suffered body pains. To recover, Indra installed and worshipped the Sun God at this place. He also created a water pool using his weapon, Vajrayudha, now called Indra Pushkarini.
Every year, during the start of Uttarayana and Dakshinayana, sunrays directly touch the feet of the Sun God inside the sanctum for a few minutes. Thousands of devotees visit the temple at this special time. It is believed that worshipping the Sun God on these days brings good fortune.
The temple features beautiful sculptures by Vishvakarma, depicting ancient stories. The main deity, Lord Suryanarayana, is a granite idol seated on a chariot driven by seven horses, along with his consorts Padma, Usha, and Chaya. He holds lotus buds, giving him the name Padma Paani. You can also see gatekeepers Pingala and Danda at the temple entrance, saints Sanaka and Sananda, and Surya’s charioteer Aruna.