The Only Sun Temple In Kerala. Did You Know?

We all know that there are several unique temples in Kerala, making it one of the important pilgrim destinations in India. Each of these temples has a story to convey, a legend worth exploring. It is much needed to know about the temple, diety, poojas, manthras before we visit a temple. In this blog let us know about The Adithyapuram Sun Temple (Suryan Kshethram), which is the only Sun Temple or Suryan Kshethram in Kerala. Let us get to know more about this marvelous temple.

A well-known Hindu mode of worship of Surya is done at the rising of the Sun, known as Sun Salutation which we commonly say “Surya Namaskaaram”.

Ten yogic postures are assumed in successive flowing movements to complete one namaskaram. 12 sacred Hindu mantras uttered and for each mantra one complete namaskaram is done. Ancient practice is to do 108 namaskarams in a day. It is considered most auspicious among Hindus to do this. Have you ever known that our Gayatri Mantram is associated with lord Surya? Yes. It is. Also another hymn associated with Surya is the Aditya Hridayam, recited by the great sage Agastya to Sree Raman on the battlefield before fighting with Ravanan. Aditya Hridayam praises the Lord Surya like this

"He(Suryan) is, the ruler of the worlds, who is crowned with rays, who appears at the horizon, who is greeted by gods and demons, and brings light. He constitutes created beings, He is the life-breath, the source of the seasons, the store-house of light, an offspring of Adithi, the progenitor, the Sun-God, the courser in the heavens, the nourisher, the possessor of rays, the golden, the brilliant, the one whose energy constitutes the seed of the universe and the maker of day. He has seven green horses, is myriad-rayed, full of rays, the destroyer of darkness, the source of happiness, the mitigator of suffering of his devotees, the infuser of life in the lifeless cosmic egg, all-pervading and the cause of the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. He is blissful by nature, the ruler of all, the bringer of day and the Teacher. A son of Aditi, He bears the fire of dissolution in His womb, is bliss personified and all-enveloping, the destroyer of cold, the lord of the heavens, the disperser of darkness, a master of the three Vedas, the sender of thick showers and the friend of water. He courses swiftly along His own orbit, carries in Him the resolve to evolve the universe and is adorned with a circle of rays. He is death, tawny and the destroyer of all. He is omniscient, all-formed, endowed with extraordinary brilliance, coppery, the source of all evolutes, the controller of lunar mansions, planets and stars, the creator of all, the resplendent among the splendid. Oh God, appearing in twelve forms, hail to You! Hail to the dispeller of darkness, the destroyer of cold, the exterminator of foes, the one whose extent is immeasurable, the destroyer of the ungrateful, the God who is the ruler of lights! Hail to You, possessing the luster of refined gold, the dispeller of ignorance, the architect of the universe, the up rooter of darkness, splendor incarnate, the onlooker of the world! The aforesaid Lord alone actually destroys, brings into existence and sustains all that has come into being. He radiates heat by His rays and sends showers. Planted in created beings, he remains awake when they have fallen asleep. He Himself is the act of pouring oblations into the sacred fire as well as the fruit attained by those who pour such oblations. He comprises the gods as well as the sacrifices as also the fruit of sacrifices. Again, He is the Supreme Controller of activities which are found in all living beings."

Adithyapuram Surya Devan Ksethram

Adithyapuram Surya Devan Kshethram is the one and only Surya temple in Kerala were daily poojas and rituals are performed. This ancient Surya

temple is located at Iravimangalam which is approximately 3kms away from Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam District. This temple is managed and run by Kapikkadu Marangattu Mana. Being frank, there are no factual evidences on when the temple was built, but there is an interesting legend associated with it. Hundreds of years ago a member of Kapikkad Marangattu Mana worshipped Surya Devan. Through meditation and 'Tapas' he received the blessing of the God and consecrated the idol of Surya in this temple. The main ritual is Abhishekam (bathing). In the first stage the Abhishekam is performed by oil and Abhishekam by water followed. It is a surprise that after pouring of water for Abhishekam there will be no trace of oil on the idol. All trace of oil disappears because the idol is made of a particular type of stone that absorbs oil.

The west facing Surya Deva is in meditative form. Durga Devi is the main diety here now because Surya deva got all powers (in the early morning Surya Deva has the powers of all other gods) from Devi through continuously chanting Durga Mantram. At the beginning of creation the Sun God alone was visible while the other Gods and Goddesses could not be seen by all. But he had the same powers that the others had. So the Sun God was displeased and He worshiped Devi Mahamaya till she appeared before Him. The Devi Blessed the Sun God and said that 6 hours till sun rise He will have all the powers of the other Gods and Goddesses also. Durga prathishta (facing east) was done in the same sanctum a hundred years ago. The temple was renovated and became famous after the Durga prathishta. Sastha and Yakshi are the upadevas or sub-deities in this temple.

The major offerings done here are Adithyapooja (believed to cure skin and eye related diseases) and Enna abhishekam (bath with oil). Some of the offerings done by devotees to cure their illnesses include 'ada nivedyam' and 'raktha chandana samarpanam'. Vrishchikam and Medam are the most important months for festivities. The last Sundays of these months are considered auspicious.

On the last Sunday of the month of 'Medam' there is Abhishekam with Raktachandanam Kavadi.

For curing diseases of the eyes and skin we have to perform Adithya Pooja and keep Rakta Chandanam in front of the Nada. For curing eye disease a mixture of the ghee and black soot of the lamp burning inside the temple is given to devotees. Sundays are considered auspicious here. Last Sunday of Vrischikam (October/November) and Medam (May/June) (glory of the Sun is at peak during these months) are considered more auspicious and special ceremonies and rituals like Kavadi abhishekam are performed. On that day at least one person from the Marangattu family should take the kavadi for the abhishekam as a part of the ritual ceremony. There will be a huge crowd in the temple on these days. For Karkkidaka Vavu and Pathamudayam also people places visit the temple.

By

DE (Dheeraj Edat)

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Vaikhari & Nativeplanet