Ancient Sun Temples of Prabhas: Legacy of India's Solar Worship Revealed

The very meaning of the word 'Prabhas' is "filled with light." In the Puranas, the Prabhas region is referred to as Bhaskar Kshetra because the Sun God was believed to shine here with his full radiant powers. According to legend, the Sun God dedicated 12 of his 16 divine rays to the 12 Sun temples in the Prabhas region, further underscoring the area's unique sacred significance.

The Sun Temple, Near Shitalamata Temple believed to date back to around the 13th century CE. This temple still bears witness to ancient inscriptions. In the Prabhas Khand, this temple is known as Nagaraditya. It is believed that Satrajit, who came from Dwarka, performed Sun worship here and, after receiving the Syamantaka Mani as divine grace from the Sun God, installed the Sun deity at this site.

The Grand Sun Temple of Triveni, located behind the Sharada Math, this Sun temple is renowned for its distinctive sculptural artistry. This uniquely structured temple, devoid of Narathar, Gajathar, and Hansathar elements, is believed to belong to the Valabhi period, and it is said to have been renovated during the 13th-14th centuries. Around the temple are several sacred sites such as Gyanvav, Suryakund, Markand Rishi Ashram, Kamanath, and Siddhanath.

The Solanki-Era Sun Temple of Prashnavad, situated along the Kodinar road in the village of Prashnavada, this Sun temple stands alongside the Gayatri Temple and faces east. The temple comprises a sanctum (Garbhagriha), a circumambulatory path (Pradakshina-path), and a rangamandap. The latticework of the closed mandap features carvings of plants and animals, and within the sanctum is a stone sculpture worshipped as Gayatri Mata. On the lintel of the sanctum doorway is a sculpted panel of the Navagrahas, with Lord Ganesha at the centre. Of the twelve pillars of the mandap, eight support the roof. The lower part of the pillars is square, the middle octagonal, and the top circular, indicating a Solanki-era shikhara. However, the original temple appears to date back to the 8th or 9th century and seems to have been renovated during the Solanki period.

The Sun Temple of Bhimdeval on the way to Talala, about one kilometre away from the village of Bhimdeval, stands this shrine of Bhima, which was originally a Sun temple. This east-facing Sun temple, dating to the 9th century CE, features a roofed entrance gateway and a large, elevated mandap supported by eight free-standing pillars. At the entrance of its sanctum are sculpted figures of the Sun God's consorts, Rajni and Nikshubha, depicted in a welcoming posture. The Nagara-style shikhara here is considered one of the earliest examples of its kind. The steps on the southeast side and the upper-tier sanctum within the shikhara were added in later periods. On the walls of the temple's closed mandap, one can see sculpted panels depicting Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, the Sun, and the Moon. This temple has been declared a protected monument by the State Department of Archaeology.

The Original Ancient and Mythological Sun Temple, the original ancient site located at Aajotha village, is known for its mythological identity. The temple here, known today as Bhimnath Mahadev, is believed to have been a Sun temple in ancient times. The Sun images carved in the niches of the mandovar of this temple reflect the sculptural style of the 11th century CE. This kund and temple have been declared protected monuments by the State Department of Archaeology.

It is noteworthy that current research suggests the existence of around twelve Sun temples in and around Somnath. However, many of them no longer survive. Evidence of these Sun temples is found at various locations,s such as near the Triveni Ghat in Somnath, one in Prabhas Patan village, near Mithapur, at Mul Prachi, Sutrapada, Bhimdeval, Navadra, and several other places.

The temples of the Prabhas region, which uphold a unique tradition of Shiva and Sun worship, are not only of religious importance but also stand as living testimonies to India's sculptural heritage, history, and cultural grandeur. Illuminated by the divine rays of the Sun, this land continues to remain a remarkable centre of ancient radiance and spiritual legacy even today.

- ANI