SRIKAKULAM: Pomp and religious fervour marked the Chakra Teertha Snanam (holy abhishekam for Lord Vishnu’s conch and Sudarshana, the discus) at Arasavalli Sri Suryanarayana Swami temple Saturday. The processional Deities of Sun God along with his consorts Usha, Chaya and Padmini were given holy bath in the temple’s pushkarini (temple tank). This was a part of the annual celestial wedding of the Sun God. The Brahmotsavams began on the Chaitra Navami day and will conclude on the Bahula Padyami day.
As per the tradition, the temple priests performed special poojas to the processional deities Saturday morning. Later they were taken in a palanquin with band party to the temple tank. After the holy bath, the deities were tastefully decorated, performed poojas and taken in a procession by the palanquin round the Tiru Veedhis. Devotees believe that taking holy dip after the Chakra Sananam will help them get rid of all sorrows and diseases.
Temple Closed
The temple was closed for 11 hours Saturday due to lunar eclipse soon after the Chakra Teertha ceremony. The ceremony was concluded expeditiously because of the eclipse. Chief priest Sankara Sarma said that the temple would be opened on Sunday after purifying the sanctum sanctorum and performing special poojas. The temple will be opened for darshan only after 8 am Sunday.