Information of Dakshinaarka Temple, Gaya, Bihar

The Dakshinaarka Temple is situated in Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Sun God commonly known as Surya Devta. Gaya is a very holy and religious city from ancient times being the sanctum of Lord Buddha and also Lord Mahavira. Apart from being a Buddhist and Jain pilgrimage centre there are many Hindu temples as well situated on the Gangetic plains of the sacred River Ganga.

Dakshinaarka Temple Religious Significance

The Dakshinaar temple is a very famous temple of the Sun God Adithya. There are many people in and around Gaya who worship the Surya God. It is said that they must have been the descendants of the fire worshippers of Central Asia.

The temple remains can be visited any time during the year and is open throughout the day. The most important day for worship is a Sunday and hundreds of pilgrims flock to worship the sun God on this auspicious day.

The Surya Temple has been associated with the ancient traditions of making offerings to the death. It is known as the Surya Kunda and is the most important religious significant. People from all parts of the country come to perform this sacred ritual of offering to the dead which in turn blesses people with well being, wealth and prosperity. There are various hymns and mantras about the Sun God written in the ancient Vedas and are chanted by the priests in the temple.

Dakshinaarka Temple Mythology & History

The worshipping of Sun God during the Magadh Dynasty has been inscribed in the ancient Puranas. So therefore this temple must have been built a very long time ago somewhere during the medieval period. There was an ancient ritual of praying to the Sun God taking a handful of water in the banks of a river and facing in the direction of the sun and offering ones prayers to the Surya God.

In the ancient Vedas the sun is referred to as the storehouse and source of all power hence the sun should be worshipped properly and with full belief. If one makes the sun God happy he will be bestowed with immense blessings and power. The Surya God lives in the Surya Loka and appears in a chariot with seven white horses and is drawn by Arjuna. The seven horses represent the seven colours in a rainbow and can also be the seven chakras of our body.

Dakshinaarka Temple Architectural Significance

The Dakshinaarka is built in temple style architecture and is a structure belonging to the Magadha Dynasty. The early records of the construction of the Dakshinaarka Temple were during the 12th century by the Emperor of Warangal Prataparudra.

The Temple stands facing the east and is located near the famous Vishnupad Temple. The Vishnupad Temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu the supreme God of the universe. The temple is built in a simple form and does not contain any carvings or figures on the wall. Inside the temple just outside the sanctum sanctorum is a hall with a number of pillar and structures of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahama, Surya God and Goddess Durga made up of stones. Inside the main sanctum is an idol of the Sun God Adithya which is made up of granite. The figure of Adithya wears a jacket, waist girdle and high boots in the Iranian style. There are many other images of the Sun God in the temple derived from central Asia.

The temple is surrounded by many other Jain and Buddhist temples and two other Surya temples are in Gaya.