Suryaसूर्य देव

About Surya

He rides a chariot drawn by seven horses, driven by Aruna, the dawn. His sons include Shani, Yama and Karna, and his worship at sunrise with an offering of water (arghya) is one of the oldest daily practices in Hinduism — continued today in Surya Namaskar.

Makar Sankranti marks his entry into Capricorn and the start of Uttarayana; Chhath Puja is a four-day festival of thanks to him and Chhathi Maiya. His great temples include Konark in Odisha and Modhera in Gujarat.

Surya mantra

Prayers to Surya 4

Chalisas, aartis, stotras and mantras for Surya, each with the full text, transliteration and meaning.

Mantra · 1 min Gayatri Mantra गायत्री मन्त्र The most sacred mantra of the Rigveda, invoking the divine light of Savitr to illuminate our intellect. Traditionally chanted at dawn, noon, and dusk. Read with meaning → Stotra · 8 min Aditya Hridayam आदित्यहृदयम् The hymn to the Sun that sage Agastya taught Rama on the battlefield before his final battle with Ravana — recited for strength, courage and freedom from fear. Read with meaning → Mantra · 5 min Mantras for Good Health आरोग्य मन्त्र Traditional mantras chanted for health and healing — the Mahamrityunjaya, the Dhanvantari mantra, Achyutananta Govinda, the Surya arghya mantra and Sarve Bhavantu Niramayah — with meaning. Read with meaning → Mantra · 6 min Surya Mantras सूर्य मन्त्र Mantras of the Sun god — the twelve names of Surya Namaskar, the arghya mantra, the Surya Gayatri, Japakusuma, the seed mantra and the Aditya Hridayam verse — with meaning. Read with meaning →

Daily shlokas

Japakusuma Sankashamजपाकुसुमसङ्काशंAt sunrise, while offering arghya to the Sun

Festivals of Surya

• सूMakar Sankrantiमकर संक्रांतिSun enters Capricorn (Makar Rashi)
• छChhath Pujaछठ पूजाShukla Shashthi, Kartik month
• लोLohriलोहड़ीEve of Makar Sankranti (Paush month end)
• बैBaisakhi (Mesha Sankranti)बैसाखीMesha Sankranti — the Sun enters Aries (solar new year)
• सूRatha Saptami (Surya Jayanti)रथ सप्तमीShukla Saptami, Magha month

Temples of Surya

Konark Sun Temple कोणार्क सूर्य मंदिर

Konark, Odisha · Surya

UNESCO World Heritage. Shaped as Surya's massive chariot — 24 wheels, 7 horses. Though mostly in ruins, still a protected active temple. Not an active functioning temple — but one of India's greatest architectural wonders. ASI-protected.

Temple guide →Map

Modhera Sun Temple मोढेरा सूर्य मंदिर

Modhera, Gujarat · Surya

A celebrated 11th-century temple to the Sun god built by the Chaulukya (Solanki) rulers of Gujarat, famous for its stepped tank, carved dance hall and sanctum aligned with the rising sun.

Temple guide →Map

Martand Sun Temple मार्तंड सूर्य मंदिर

Mattan, Jammu and Kashmir · Surya

The ruins of a grand 8th-century temple to Surya on a plateau above the Kashmir Valley, built under King Lalitaditya and regarded as the finest example of ancient Kashmiri temple architecture.

Temple guide →Map

Arasavalli Sun Temple अरसवल्ली सूर्य मंदिर

Arasavalli (Srikakulam), Andhra Pradesh · Surya (Suryanarayana)

One of the few Sun temples in India still in daily worship, at Arasavalli near Srikakulam. Twice a year the rising sun's rays fall on the feet of the deity, and the Ratha Saptami festival draws huge crowds.

Temple guide →Map

Gop Temple गोप मंदिर

Gop (Jamjodhpur taluka), Gujarat · Surya (traditionally identified)

Counted among the earliest surviving stone temples of Gujarat, dated to around the late 6th century. Its weathered pyramidal tower is a key landmark in the history of north Indian temple architecture.

Temple guide →Map

Navlakha Temple, Ghumli नवलखा मंदिर, घुमली

Ghumli (Bhanvad), Gujarat · Surya

The impressive ruins of a Sun temple built by the Jethwa rulers at their old capital of Ghumli. It has one of the largest temple platforms in Gujarat and fine Solanki-style sculpture.

Temple guide →Map

Thousand Pillar Temple रुद्रेश्वर स्वामी मंदिर (हज़ार स्तंभ मंदिर)

Hanamkonda, Telangana · Shiva (Rudreshwara), Vishnu and Surya

A star-shaped triple shrine of Shiva, Vishnu and Surya built under the Kakatiya king Rudra Deva in Hanamkonda. Its richly carved pillars, polished black-stone Nandi and fine stonework make it a showpiece of Kakatiya art.

Temple guide →Map

Pindara Group of Temples पिंडारा मंदिर समूह

Pindara, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gujarat · Shiva and Surya (historic shrines)

A rare cluster of early medieval stone temples on the Saurashtra coast east of Dwarka, protected as a monument of national importance and known locally as the Durvasa Rishi Ashram.

Temple guide →Map

Kasivisvesvara Temple, Lakkundi काशी विश्वेश्वर मंदिर, लक्कुंडी

Lakkundi, Gadag, Karnataka · Shiva (Kashi Vishveshvara), with a facing shrine of Surya

One of the finest temples of the Kalyani Chalukya style, with two shrines facing each other for Shiva and Surya and some of the most delicate stone carving in Karnataka.

Temple guide →Map

Frequently asked questions