According to the Padmapuranam, Sage Kasyapa established the idol of Surya at Arasavalli for the benefit of humanity, and the Sun God is venerated as the planetary king.

Lore:

According to the temple's 'Sthalapuranam,' the current idol of Lord Suryanarayana Swamy was discovered and installed by Lord Devendra under remarkable circumstances. One day, disregarding the admonitions of the doorkeeper Nandi, Devendra attempted to enter the sanctum of Sri Rudrakoteswara Swamy at an inappropriate time when Lord Shiva was with his consort. Nandi, fulfilling his duty, repelled Devendra with a kick, causing him to fall unconscious. While in this state, Devendra dreamt that his chest injury, inflicted by Nandi, would be healed if he built a temple and installed an idol of the Sun God. Upon waking, Devendra recalled his dream and began to gather earth from the spot where he had fallen. To his astonishment, he unearthed a beautifully carved idol of the Sun God, accompanied by his three consorts—Usha, Chaya, and Padmini.

Architecture:

The temple's architecture features a striking idol of the Sun God with his three consorts—Usha, Chaya, and Padmini—along with figures of Mathara and Pingala as the Dwarapalakas, and the saints Sanaka and Sanandana holding umbrellas. The Sun God is depicted riding a chariot drawn by seven horses, all meticulously carved from a single block of polished black granite, showcasing the temple’s remarkable craftsmanship.