Sun Temples In India - An Introduction Part 01/08

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Sun Temple In India An Introduction

 

Sai Ram

 

 

The Vedic scriptures of the Hindu religion refer to the sun as the

store house of inexhaustible power and radiance. Ths sun god is

referred to as Surya or Aditya. The Vedas are full of hymns

describing the celestial body as the source and sustainer of all life

on earth. The origin of the worship of the Sun in India is thus

several centuries old.

 

References to sun worship are found in the puranas. The Ramayana

speaks of Sage Agastya initiating Rama into sun worship through the

Aditya Hridaya Mantra. The astronomer and astrologer Varahamirhira

makes references to the intricacies of ceremonies connected with the

installation of the icon of the Sun. It is also said that Iran was

once a center of Solar worship and that some of the Magha priests of

Iran had been brought to India to officiate in ceremonies.

 

There are several temples enshrining the Sun God as the principal

deity. Several temples dedicated to Shiva, feature a small shrine

for Surya the Sun God. In addition, it is believed that Surya, the

Sun God has offered worship at several of the shrines in Tamilnadu;

many of these shrines have been designed in such a way that the sun's

rays illuminate the sanctum (of Shiva) on certain days of the year.

Several of the South Indian Temple Tanks also bear the name Surya

Theertham or Surya Pushkarini.

 

This article takes readers on a journey through seven temples

dedicated primarily to Surya, Dakshinaarka Temple in the Gangetic

Plains, Suryanaar Koyil in South India, Arasavilli and Konark on the

East Coast of India, Modhera in Gujarat (Western India), Surya Pahar

in North Eastern India and Unao in Central India. It should be

mentioned here that remains of an ancient Sun temple are found at

Martanda near Srinagar in Kashmir. It is said to date back to the

first century AD. Ruins of a sun temple which attracted thousands of

visitors in the 7th century AD are found in Multan in Pakistan.

 

As with all other temples in India, legends and beliefs are

associated with each of the above temples. It is interesting to note

that one of the beliefs shared by worshippers at these temples

situated so far apart - is that visits to these temples followed by a

dip in the sacred tanks associated with them would bring relief to

believers ailing from blindness, leprosy and other skin diseases.

 

Continue.....

 

The Dakshinaarka temple at Gaya, Bihar, India Part 02/08

 

Jai Sai Ram

Swamy Mahadevan

Bow to Shri Sai-Peace be to all