Shri Bhetadiya Bhan Surya Mandir

Shri Bhetadiya Bhan Surya Mandir is a mythical and miraculous Sun Temple located at Motiboru Village in Dholka Taluk in Gujarat. The Sun God present here in the form of a child which is unique in the world. Here the first ray of the rising sun falls on God’s face.

The Padmapurana, one of the eighteen Puranas of Hindu, mentions that the ancestors of those are satisfied who feed the Brahmins and devotees after bathing in the Suryakund of the temple and offering oblation (arghya) to the God. The water of Suryakund here is so miraculous that it cures many incurable diseases. As one gets relief from eye and skin diseases by offering arghya and prayer at ancient Suryaghat near Guheshwar temple in Pashupatinath in Nepal, the same effect is seen here. Here Bhagwan Mahadev is present in the Omkar form, hence reflects the oneness of Shiva and Aditya.

It is believed that Solanki king Bhimdeva-I rebuilt it around 1026 C E. Sun temples were built all over Gujarat during the Solanki rule. This Surya Mandir is situated at Triveni Sangam i.e. the confluence of three rivers -Bhogavo, Sabarmati and Mahisagar. This temple and the nearby village Bhangarh got destroyed due to natural calamities, like the nearby Harappan civilization site of Lothal in Dholka Taluka was destroyed in past. There is also a history that Solanki queen Mother Minal Devi used go on pilgrimage of Somnath Mahadev in Saurashtra by sea route from this place after paying reverence to Bhetadiya Dada here.

According to another legend Bhetadia Bhan is also connected with the history of Maa Sai Nehdi and Veer Evalwala, when Maa Sai Nehdi was questioned by her husband about her relationship with Veer Evalwala, it was proved by Surya Narayan’s grace that “Maa Sai Nehdi is sacred”.