Adithyapuram Surya Temple is one of the rarest temple in India just 4 kilometers from Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam District which enshrines Lord Surya as the principal deity. As far as I know, Sun Temple at Konark, Eramalloor Surya temple near Mavelikkara and Surya Kalady Mana Temple are the only abodes for the worship of Sun deity.
From the vedic times, the people of India worshipped the Sun God. But temples dedicated to the Sun God are very few in number. 'The Konark temple' of Orissa is the only Sun temple that is famous and well known to all Indians. It is also renowned for its intricate sculpture but there is no daily performance of rituals as in the Sun temple of Adityapuram in Kerala. The temple is situated in Iravimangalam village in Kottayam District, Vaikom Taluk and Kaduthuruthi Panchayath. There are no documents to prove how ancient it is but the method of construction is said to be according to that of the Thretha Yuga.
Along the Ettumanoor- Vaikom route if we start from Ettumanoor by bus we have to alight at Kurupanthara (where the famous Malliyoor Mahaganapathi temple is located) and from there we have to board a bus to Ayamkudi and travel about 4 km to reach the temple. If we start the journey from Vaikom at Kaduthuruthy we have to board the bus to Kallara and travel 3 km to reach the place.
Along the Ettumanoor- Vaikom route if we start from Ettumanoor by bus we have to alight at Kurupanthara (where the famous Malliyoor Mahaganapathi temple is located) and from there we have to board a bus to Ayamkudi and travel about 4 km to reach the temple. If we start the journey from Vaikom at Kaduthuruthy we have to board the bus to Kallara and travel 3 km to reach the place.
A little away from the temple there is a place called Kavikadu where there is the famous 'Marangat Mana', where a Brahmin family resides, are the owners of this temple. It is behind that one of the family member who lived in the ancient times was a great devotee of the Sun God. Through meditation he received the idol of the God and consecrated the idol in this temple. After performing oil bath (enna aaduka in malayalam) they also perform bathing the idol with water (jalabhishekam) and all trace of oil disappears because the idol is made of a particular type of stone that absorbs oil.
The idol faces the West and is said to be in the meditative form. There is a story behind this. At the beginning of creation the Sun God alone was visible while the other Gods & Goddesses could not be seen by all. But he had the same powers which the others had. So the Sun God was displeased and he worshipped supreme Goddess Mahamaya till she appear before him. The Devi blessed the Sun God and said that 6 hours till sun rise he will have all the powers of the other Gods and Goddesses also.
The idol faces the West and is said to be in the meditative form. There is a story behind this. At the beginning of creation the Sun God alone was visible while the other Gods & Goddesses could not be seen by all. But he had the same powers which the others had. So the Sun God was displeased and he worshipped supreme Goddess Mahamaya till she appear before him. The Devi blessed the Sun God and said that 6 hours till sun rise he will have all the powers of the other Gods and Goddesses also.
From a place called Kakkathu hill a very ancient Devi idol with broken limbs has been found out and is installed in the temple facing the East. People believe that this idol is connected to the legend of Adityapuram temple. It is said that the devi idol was installed about eight or nine decades ago. It is only after that the temple was renovated and became famous. Raktachandanam is the special prasadam of this temple. Sundays are important days. The last Sundays of the Malayalam months of 'Vrischikam' and 'Medam' when the glory of the Sun is at the highest are considered auspicious. On that day at least one person from the Marangat family has to take the 'Kavadi' for the Abhishekam. There is a huge crowd in the temple on this day. For 'Karkidaka Vavu' and 'Patham Udayam' also people from far away places visit the temple.
For curing diseases of the eyes and skin we have to perform Sun worship and keep Rakta Chandana wood at the Nada. For curing eye diseases, a mixture of ghee and black soot of the lamp burning inside the temple is given to devotees.
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