ARASAVALLI (Srikakulam District): Sunlight failed to caress the feet of the idol of Lord Suryanarayana in the temple of Arasavilli for the first time in the temple’s history. Delayed sunrise coupled with mist caused disappointment among thousands of devotees who thronged the sun temple at Arasavilli in the district on all the three days from March 9 to 11.
The unique construction of the temple ensures that the first rays of sun fall on the feet of the idol of Lord Suryanarayana, the presiding deity of the temple, and slowly rise to light up the idol to the level of its navel on three days in March, March 9 to 11, and three days in October, October 1 to 3.
Such is the marvel that the light filters in even if the five entrance gates of the temple are closed. Thousands of devotees who thronged to witness the phenomenon during the auspicious Uttarayanam, when the sun is in the northern hemisphere, and waited patiently from early morning for the sunrise.
Normally the light rays start filtering into the temple at 7 a.m. and the devotees patiently waited up to 7:30 a.m.
with a fervent desire to see the legs of the idol of Lord Suryanarayana bathed in early morning sunlight. On Friday and Saturday mist played spoilsport and there was no darshan forcing the devotees to stay back for a darshan on Sunday, the last day possible in this season.
Even on Sunday, the favourite day of the Sun God, the devotees were disappointed. Temple priests too are clueless at the occurrence that has never been noted in the history. “The sunlight falling on the idol’s feet is a natural phenomenon. We only hope for better times in future,” the priests said.