Dakshinaarka Temple - It Is Different From The Other Temples On The Root Of Its Majesty.

DAKSHINAARKA TEMPLE OR SURYA TEMPLE

AT

GAYA

Dakshinaarka Temple is located in Gaya district of Bihar State of India. Dakshinaarka Temple or Sun Temple in Gaya is an ancient shrine, which is also mentioned in the Hindu religious book Vaayu Purana. The temple is of supreme significance for all those visiting Gaya for pind daan (a religious ritual performed for the peace of the departed souls).

Devotees make offerings to their deceased ancestors near the Surya Kunda or Dakshina Maanas tank built right in front of Sun Temple. Located close to the Vishnupad Temple, this shrine has simple architecture with a dome-shaped top.Offerings to the ancestors are made at the Surya Kunda or the Dakshina Maanas tank in front of the temple. Sun worship apparently was very popular in the Magadha region which included Gaya.

Numerous old images of the Sun God Aditya are found in the Gaya region and there are still quite a number of sun worshippers in Gaya. It is said that they may have descended from the fire worshippers of Central Asia.

In fact, the granite image of Aditya (this particular image here is also referred to as Dakshinaarka) or the Sun God worshipped here is portrayed as wearing a jacket, a waist girdle and high boots in the Iranian tradition. Hundreds of people visit this temple on Sundays.

Sun worship in the Magadha region that encompassed Gaya has been mentioned in the Puranas and thus this temple is said to be of very ancient origin. The current structure dates back to the 13^th century, where the South Indian emperor Prataparudra of Warangal in Andhra Pradesh is said to have built it.

The Sun Temple at Gaya faces east and is located close to the famous Vishnupaada temple where a footprint of Vishnu is said to be enshrined. To the east of the temple is the tank Surya Kunda. The temple is a simple and plain one, with a dome over it. The comparatively larger sabha mandapa stands in front of the sanctum. Massive pillars line the mandapa where there are graceful stone sculptures of Shiva, Bhramaa, Vishnu, Surya and Durga.

The temple is surrounded by many other Jain and Buddhist temples and also two other Surya temples are in Gaya. 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.  It is different from the other temples on the basis of  its splendor.