The heart of Jhalrapatan, once known as the ‘City of Jhalron’ in Rajasthan, is the Surya Mandir here. This temple was built in the ninth century. This temple is famous for its antiquity and architectural splendor. Colonel James Tod has considered this temple as a four-armed (Chaturbhaj) temple. At present the idol of Chaturbhaj Narayan is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Seeing the ‘Shantinath Jain Temple’ built in the Sun Temple style after the 11th century, tourists get confused with the Jain temple in the Sun Temple. But the established statue of Chaturbhuj Narayan, the peak of Indian architecture and the base of the chariot style of the temple, all these unquestionably prove the Sun Temple.
According to the well-researched inscription found in the Sun Temple by senior historian Balwant Singh Hada, this temple of Jhalrapatan was built by Nagabhatta II in Samvat 872 (9th century).
This huge Sun Temple of Jhalrapatan, Padmanathji Temple, Bada Mandir, Temple of Seven Friends etc. is famous by many names. The temple is built in Khajuraho and Konark style. This style developed between the 10th and 13th centuries AD. This temple built in chariot style reinforces this belief. Lord Surya is seated on a chariot with seven horses.
The foundation stone of the temple corresponds to a chariot drawn by seven horses. On seeing the extreme culmination of architecture engraving in the Shikhar pillar and idols inside the temple, the viewer starts to wonder.
From the point of view of craft beauty, the outer and inner idols of the temple touch the extreme heights of architecture. The upward facing artistic octagonal lotus of the temple is very beautiful, vibrant and attractive. The upward-facing octagonal lotus of the temple has been engraved in this artistic way by combining eight stones, as if this temple is a lotus flower.
The highest peak touching the sky of the temple is 97 feet high. There are other subshikharas in the temple as well. The urns and domes of the peaks are very attractive. Seeing the shape of the domes, the architecture and architecture of the Mughal period is remembered.
The entire temple is divided into outer and inner parts like Torana Dwar, Mandap, Nij Mandir, Garbh Graha etc. The dilapidated flags of the temple have been renovated and hoisted from time to time. In Puranas, Lord Surya Dev has been worshiped in the form of Chaturbhuj Narayan.
According to the ‘Rajasthan Gazetteer’ Jhalawar, the Sun (Padmnath) temple has the first place in the list of important monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India.
In the reference books ‘Rajasthan Jhalawar Darshan’ and ‘Three Years of District Jhalawar Progress’ published by the ‘Information and Public Relations Department’, the Sun Temple has been called ‘Padmanath’ and ‘Temple of Seven Friends’.
At the same time, in the ‘Rajasthan Darshan and Guide’ published by ‘Tourism and Cultural Department’ Rajasthan, this ancient temple has been considered as the main attraction center of Jhalrapatan city. It has been recognized as the best and safest Surya idol in India.