Firangi Deval Sun Temple- Gujarat

Address

Firangi Deval Sun Temple- Kalsar, Bhavnagar district Gujarat 364295

Diety

Surya

Introduction

Firangi Deval, also known as Devalvasi, is an old Sun temple monument located in Kalsar village near Mahuva, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. It is constructed in 7th century during the Maitraka rule. It is state protected monument. Ravishankar Raval had first described the temple in 1947-48 as the Sun Temple. The temple has close affinity with the temples of Bileshwar, Visavada and Sutrapada.

Puranic Significance

It is constructed in 7th century during the Maitraka rule. This east facing shrine proper is slight oblong in plan with small mandapa hall in front of it. The structure is built on plain upapitha, plinth. The walls are plain except the upper most area where there is Dantavali, a carved band of stylized rafter’s end with minor kapota at the top. The superstructure above the temple is built by tritala, three courses with all three having Karnakuta carvings in order of 4, 3 and 2. The upper most crowning stone is missing which may have been Sala-shikhara. The mandapa too has superstructure vimana with one less course, which let into fronton of vimana over cella. The crowning stone has large Surpa with prominent Chandrasala in front of it. Karnakuta is used to decorate both superstructures but they are not decorated with Chaitya dormers here. No mortar is used to fix the stones. The temple is not used for worship now and does not contain any idol of deity. The temple was probably used as Brahminical shrine identified by Chaitya dormers on the courses of vimana.