SRIKAKULAM: The extraordinary phenomenon of sun rays illuminating the idol of the Sun God at the Sun temple at Arasavilli made for a spectacular sight Tuesday, delighting devotees to no end in Srikakulam. Sun rays lit up the idol of Surya Narayana Swamy from head to toe in the sanctum sanctorum and stayed on the idol for five to six long minutes, leaving the devotees in awe and with a feeling of having been blessed. The unique phenomenon occurs only twice a year.
On Monday, the sun hid behind clouds, disappointing many devotees. The rare devotional event occurs when the Sun enters the northern hemisphere (Uttarayanam) and the southern hemisphere (Dakshinayanam). This had become a tradition and celestialevent for Sun God devotees. The event occurs on March 8, 9 and 10 and October 1, 2 and 3. The Arasavalli temple is the only one in India where the Sun Deity is worshipped all through the year with poojas and other devotional programmes.
There is a firm belief that having a darshan of the Main Deity with Sun rays on it will cure people of all diseases and bestow health and prosperity on them. Ramayya, a devotee, said that he believes that having darshan of the Sun God would cure people of all skin diseases.
It was therefore no surprise that a large number of devotees flocked the temple for darshan and felt very happy Tuesday. Temple chief priest E Shankar Sarma said that the Sun rays will not touch the main Deity’s feet on the third day Wednesday.
District collector Lakshmi Narasimham, who was at the temple Monday and left disappointed, expressed his delight at being able to witness the event Tuesday.
The temple authorities banned smart phones and cameras on the temple premises. Endowments assistant commissioner Syamala Devi said that the devotees felt that having darshan of the Deity on the particular days was the fruit of good actions performed in their past births.