JOIN USThe shrine of Sadashiva Rudra is situated at Surya in Nada village, about six kilometres from Ujire town in Belthangady taluk.
This shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva is built in the traditional Mangalore style of architecture with tiled sloping roof. There is a small arch at the entrance on which is placed statuettes of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvathi flanked by Nandi and a lion.
A tall dhwajasthambha stands in front of the entrance. Inside the complex is a small parikrama, mantapa and a small garbhagriha where Shiva Linga is seated. This shrine is popularly known as Surya Temple. Adjacent to the temple is a shine for Nagadevathas amidst a thickly forested area.
This temple’s history dates back to 13th century according to the inscriptions found here. Near the main temple complex, there is a deep pushkarini with a canopy of tall trees around it. Next to the well, amidst the thick mini-forest is another small shrine. Beyond this is a deep pit with a few rocks at the centre resembling Shiva lingas.
The Surya Temple has a peculiar tradition of devotees first walking up to the small shrine in the mini-forest and praying silently for fulfilment of their wishes, and then proceeding to the main shrine. After the wishes are fulfilled, the devotees come back here and offer small clay models symbolic of whatever they had wished for. Readymade clay models are available at a shop in the temple premises.