File:0111621 Surya Temple, Sesai Madhya Pradesh 006.jpg

English: The Sun temple of Sesai is a 9th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Surya. It is one of the better preserved among the well over hundred Sun temple ruins discovered in north and west India.

The Sesai Sun temple faces west and stands on a high jagati (platform). It has a garbhagriha (sanctum), a small antarala (vestibule), and a mukhamandapa (portico). The mandapa is supported by two front pillars and two back pilasters, all intricately carved with Hindu artwork. The temple elevation is pancharatha, and it had a shikhara (spire) of the Nagara style. It has a dated inscription. The epigraphic evidence therein implies that this temple was torn down and its artwork deliberately damaged after the late 13th-century.

The pillars, internal walls, ceiling of the mandapa are decorated with Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti and Saura tradition artwork. The temple has several versions of Surya iconography. The sanctum door is profusely carved with Rudras, Adityas, Lakshmi, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma and Saraswati. Ganga and Yamuna flank the bottom of the door jambs. Remarkably, the top row above the door jambs of this Surya temple has all the Rudras, while the door jamb depicts all ten dasavataras of Vishnu. Surya with Aruna leading the 7-horse chariot graces the lalatabimba of the lintel. Three Adityas flank Surya on its right and eight on its left. Other artwork include the damaged parts of the Ashta-dikpalas (eight directional guardians) in the karna niches, mutilated Uma-Maheshvar, Kartikeya, Brahma, as well as several empty niches. The temple has been variously dated between the 9th and the 10th century.

The Sesai Surya temple is yet another example of numerous historic Hindu temples where iconography of all major Hindu traditions were reverentially included.