Surya Narayan Temple
The temple is a place for devotees to offer prayers to the sun, seek energy, light, health, and spiritual illumination. The temple often consists of sanctum (garbhagriha) with Surya’s idol, mandapas (halls), and sometimes subsidiary shrines for other deities.
Architecture of the Temple
Arasavalli Temple: built in Kalinga (Odisha) style (Rekha deula) like the Jagannath temple; has multiple gates and precise alignment such that early morning sun rays fall on the feet of the deity even when the five entrance gates are closed.
Domlur Suryanarayana Temple (Bangalore): constructed in a style inspired by Chola temple architecture..
Typical elements include:
• Garbhagriha (sanctum) oriented east so that rising sun’s rays may enter the sanctum.
• Mandapa / Sabha hall for devotee gatherings.
• Entrance gopuram / tower (in southern style).
• Use of stone, carved pillars, sculptures, depictions of Surya’s chariot (7 horses, 2 consorts Usha & Pratyusha).
• In some temples, a temple tank / pond or Pushkarini / kund is present for ritual ablutions.
How to Reach to Temple
By Road / Local Transport: Most Sun temples are reachable by road from the nearest city or town via buses, taxis, auto‑rickshaws.
By Rail / Air: Use the nearest railway station or airport, then travel by road to the temple.
For instance, for Arasavalli Surya Narayana Temple, it’s located in Arasavalli village, ~1 km east of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.
For Domlur Suryanarayana Temple, it’s inside Bangalore city, in Domlur area. travels by road to Goalpara and then local transport.
Temple Timings
