In the village of Deo, Aurangabad is an ancient Surya temple.
It’s a 8 km aside from the highway to Gaya but worth the trouble for its beauty and aastha.
It’s unique as in it does not face the east towards the rising sun but to the west – the setting sun.
The gateway has been made recently and has the sculpture of the Sun God in his chariot pulled by horses.
This temple has been built in the Nagar or North Indian style of temple architecture somewhere between 8-12 AD.
The main original structure consists of a beautifully carved 100 feet high shikhara crowned by an amlak
A carving of Lord Ganesh decorates the front of the shikhar.
The flat front part and courtyard are a later addition
The original presiding diety is kept in the hall while the three firms of Surya are in the sanctum.
These represent Udaychal ( rising sun), Madhyachal ( Midday sun) and Astachal ( setting sun)
In the courtyard
The southern side
A small shrine on this side
The eastern side
The northern side
An archival photograph
Shops outside.
This temple is extremely crowded during chath puja and a nearby tank calked surajkund is considered very auspicious.