Mdraselsarker at 14:34, 3 May 2026

2026-05-03T14:34:14Z

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{{Short description|Temple of Lord Suryanarayana in Mithila}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple|name=Kandaha Surya Mandir|native_name=कन्दाहा सूर्य मंदिर|native_name_lang=mai|religious_affiliation=[[Hinduism]]|deity=Lord Suryanarayana|location=Kandaha village, Mahishi block, [[Mithila region]]|district=[[Saharsa district]]|state=Bihar|country=India|founded_by=Sambhya, the son of Lord Krishna|footnotes=Lord Surya Mandir in Mithila associated with the epic Mahabharata|alt=|designated=Markandeyark Surya Mandir|governing_body=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]|functional_status=Preserved|festivals=[[Chhath]] Puja|temple_board=Bihar State Religious Trust Council|organizational_status=|organisational_status=}}
'''Kandaha Surya Mandir''' ([[Maithili language|Maithili]]: कन्दाहा सूर्य मंदिर) is an ancient temple dedicated to [[Surya|Lord Suryanarayana]] in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]] of Bihar. According to Hindu adherents, the temple is believed to be existing from the period of [[Mahabharata]]. It is located at ''Kandaha'' village in the [[Mahishi|Mahishi block]] of the [[Saharsa district]] in [[Bihar]], [[India]]. It is said that in the ancient time the temple was constructed by ''[[Samba (Krishna's son)|Sambhya]]'', the son of [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=सिंह |first=मुकेश |date=2020-09-04 |title=सहरसा: गुमनाम हो रहा कन्दाहा का प्राचीन सूर्य मंदिर, भगवान श्री कृष्ण के बेटे ने करवाया था निर्माण |url=https://www.abplive.com/states/bihar/saharsa-the-ancient-sun-temple-of-kandaha-being-anonymous-was-built-by-the-son-of-lord-shri-krishna-ann-1551492 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.abplive.com |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bharat |first=E. T. V. |date=2022-10-16 |title=जिस सूर्य मंदिर के कुंए के पानी पीने से असाध्य रोगों से मिल जाती है मुक्ति, वह झेल रहा गुमनामी का दंश |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hindi/bihar/state/saharsa/kandaha-sun-temple-of-saharsa-needs-recognition/bh20221016110037428428485 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=देश के 12 सूर्य मंदिरों में एक है कंदाहा का सूर्य मंदिर - |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/saharsa-14961338.html |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref> It is one of twelve temples dedicated to Lord Suryanarayana in the country. It is also known as ''Markandeyark Surya Mandir''.<ref name=":0" />

== Description ==
According to legends, the description of the temple could be traced from the Hindu texts ''Surya Purana'' and [[Mahabharata]]. It is also known as ''Bhavaditya'' but its mythical name is ''Markandeyark''. The temple has an idol of the Sun with [[Aries (constellation)|Aries]], the distinctive sign of the [[zodiac]]. In the temple, there is an idol of eight-armed [[Ganesha|Lord Ganesha]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

The temple is built on a high land at Kandaha village. In the temple, there is an idol of the Lord Suryanarayana carved on a black stone. The idol is depicting Lord Suryanarayana riding on a chariot of seven horses.<ref name=":0" /> According to legends, it is believed that when the sun enters ''Mesha Rashi'' (Aries) in the Hindu month of [[Vaishakha|Baisakh]], the first ray of the sun falls on the black stone's sun statue and its chariot.<ref name=":1" />

In the temple, apart from the Lord Suryanarayana statue there is a stunning statue of [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]]. Similarly there are also statues of the two wives ''[[Sanjna]]'' and ''[[Chhaya]]'' of Lord Suryanarayana.<ref name=":1" /> In the campus of the temple, there is a sacred well. According to legends, it is believed that bathing from the sacred well's water is very beneficial for leprosy patients.<ref name=":3" />

== Legendary story ==
According to [[Puranas|Puranic]] texts, once [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]], the son of Lord Krishna was cursed by the celestial sage [[Narada|Devashree Narada]]. Then Samba established 12 Sun temples in different parts of the [[Āryāvarta|Aryavarta]] region during the period of 12 signs of the constellations to get rid from the curse given by Devashree Narada Muni. The Kandaha Surya Mandir is one of those 12 Sun temples and also called as Markandeyark Surya Mandir.<ref name=":0" />

== History ==
The original ancient temple might had been destroyed over a long time period.The temple was rebuilt by the kings of [[Pala Empire|Pala Dynasty]].

Similarly in a copper plate inscription, it is stated that the temple was built in 1357 by a [[Brahmin]] named ''Vanshadhara'' on the orders of [[King Narasimha|King Narsimha Deva]] of the [[Oiniwar dynasty|Oiniwar Dynasty]].<ref name=":0" />

According to the priest ''Babu Kant Jha'' of the temple, it was built and destroyed many times but in 1334, the temple was renovated by the King [[Bhavasimha|Bhavadevasimha]] of the [[Oiniwar dynasty|Oiniwar Dynasty]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> In the campus of the temple, several rare statues of gods and goddesses were found from time to time. In 1985, the temple was taken under the protection of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] due to its archaeological significance.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=सहरसा के कंदाहा स्थित पुरातत्व विभाग संरक्षित सूर्य मंदिर विकास से उपेक्षित |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/saharsa/story-saharsa-kandaha-sun-temple-2245227.html |work=Hindustan}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

{{coord missing|Bihar}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Bihar]]
[[Category:Saharsa district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Mithila]]
[[Category:Surya temples]]
[[Category:Places in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Bihar]]

Kandaha Surya Mandir - Revision history

Mdraselsarker at 14:34, 3 May 2026