Archive · 22 Jan 2026
Kalinga's Sun Worship Tradition in Srikakulam
A long time ago, in a place called Kalinga, which is now part of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, people worshipped the Sun God very seriously.
This wasn't just a small tradition; it was a big part of their religion, supported by kings and priests.
The Srikakulam area was especially important for this Sun worship.
Kings gave land and money to Sun priests and built temples like the Arasavalli Sun Temple.
They even had special festivals and rituals, like Ratha Saptami, to honor the Sun God.
The most famous Sun temple, Konark, was built much later but showed how important Sun worship was in this region.
The Kalinga Empire had a deep-rooted tradition of Sun worship, supported by royal patronage and temple institutions.
Srikakulam was a major center for Sun worship, with the Arasavalli Sun Temple being one of the oldest in the region.
Kalinga rulers followed the Pañca-devata system, granting Surya a prominent position alongside Siva and Vishnu.
Historical records, like the Sumandala copper plate grant, show kings describing themselves as devotees of the Sun God and granting land to Saura Brahmanas.
The Konark Sun Temple, built in the 13th century, marked the culmination of Kalinga's long-established solar tradition.
- Who
- Kalinga Empire rulers, Saura Brahmanas, and dynasties like Eastern Gangas, Matharas, and Sailodbhavas
- What
- Deep-rooted tradition of Sun worship (Surya upasana) and its historical expressions in Srikakulam
- When
- From ancient times, with notable records from 636 CE, 1147 CE, and 1148 CE
- Where
- Srikakulam region, present-day north Andhra and south Odisha
- Why
- Royal patronage and institutional support for solar worship, including land grants and ritual endowments
- Region
- Srikakulam, present-day north Andhra and south Odisha
- Dynasties
- Eastern Gangas, Matharas, Sailodbhavas
- Religious System
- Pañca-devata system with Surya as prominent
- Notable Temples
- Arasavalli Sun Temple, Konark Sun Temple
- Key Festival
- Ratha Saptami (Tila Saptami)
- Historical Records
- Sumandala copper plate grant, inscriptions from 636 CE, 1147 CE, 1148 CE
- Ritual Tanks
- Indra Pushkarini for purification rites
- Iconography
- Surya driving a seven-horse chariot