Question 67 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Art and
Culture

Question

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?
1. Arasavalli
2. Amarakantak
3. Omkareshwar
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 only

Strategy: Use the process of elimination. Identify that Omkareshwar is a Jyotirlinga shrine for Lord Shiva, not a Sun temple. This fact makes statement 3 incorrect. Eliminate all options containing statement 3 (B, C, and D), which leaves option A as the correct answer. No further information about the other locations is needed.

Key Info: ### Sun Temples in India
Sun temples are Hindu temples dedicated to the solar deity, Surya. While numerous, some are particularly famous for their architecture and historical significance. Key examples include the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Modhera Sun Temple in Gujarat, and the Martand Sun Temple in Jammu and Kashmir.

### Arasavalli
- **Location**: Arasavalli village, near Srikakulam town in Andhra Pradesh.
- **Significance**: It houses one of the ancient and prominent Sun temples in India, the Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple.
- **History and Architecture**: The temple is believed to have been built in the 7th century by the Kalinga king Devendra Varma. The presiding deity is a granite image of Surya. A unique feature is that the sun's rays directly fall on the feet of the deity's idol twice a year (in March and September) during the equinoxes.

### Amarakantak
- **Location**: A pilgrim town in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh.
- **Significance**: It is a unique natural heritage area and the meeting point of the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges. It is the source of three major rivers: the Narmada, the Son, and the Johila.
- **Religious Importance**: Amarakantak is a significant pilgrimage site, but it is famous for the Narmada Udgam Temple (at the origin of the Narmada river) and the ancient temples of the Kalachuri period. It is not known for a Sun temple.

### Omkareshwar
- **Location**: A sacred island on the Narmada river in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.
- **Significance**: The island is said to be shaped like the Devanagari 'Om' (ॐ) symbol.
- **Religious Importance**: Omkareshwar is one of the 12 revered **Jyotirlinga** shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main temple is the Shri Omkar Mandhata temple. Due to its status as a premier Shaivite pilgrimage center, it is not associated with Sun worship.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples? Arasavalli Amarakantak Omkareshwar Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?

Arasavalli

Amarakantak

Omkareshwar
Select the correct answer using the code given below: