Previous Year Question

Arasavalli—Correct: The place called “Arasavalli” in the original paper is now commonly written as Arasavilli. Located near Srikakulam town in Andhra Pradesh, it is famous for the ancient Suryanarayana Swamy Temple, whose principal deity is the Sun.

According to the Srikakulam district administration, it is one of India’s important ancient Sun temples. A tradition associated with the Padma Purana attributes the installation of the image of Surya here to Sage Kashyapa. Surya is worshipped in the temple as the ruler of the planets.

Amarakantak—Incorrect: Amarakantak, situated in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, is principally famous for the origin of the River Narmada, the Narmada Udgam Temple and ancient temples associated with the Kalachuris. Although it contains several religious structures, its principal identity is not that of a Sun-temple site.

Amarakantak is situated in the meeting region of the Vindhya and Satpura mountain systems. The source regions of the Son and Johila rivers are also located around Amarakantak.

Omkareshwar—Incorrect: Omkareshwar, situated on Mandhata Island in the River Narmada in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, is a Shaiva pilgrimage centre. The Omkar-Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva; it is therefore not a Sun temple.

The Omkareshwar Temple is situated on Mandhata Island, while the Mamleshwar Temple stands on the southern bank of the Narmada. Religious tradition regards the two Shiva lingas as two manifestations of the same Jyotirlinga.

All three places are religious centres, but their principal associations differ—Arasavalli with Surya, Amarakantak with the source of the Narmada, and Omkareshwar with the Shiva Jyotirlinga. Therefore, only place 1 is correct.