In a state that worships the Sun God during its biggest festival of Chhath, the most famous living sun temple in the country lies unprotected.

Though devotees continue to worship at the temple, its stonework is peeling off, idols lie unkempt and uncared for and in the absence of a lightning conductor, a lightning struck the place a couple of months ago, damaging the structure.

Over 7 lakh Chhath devotees are going to throng the Sun Temple at Deo in Aurangabad district, protected neither by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) nor the state archaeology directorate.

Chandravanshi king Bhairavendra Singh is believed to have built the ancient temple in the 8th century AD. But according to an inscription on the present structure, it dates back to AD 1548. The temple also finds mention in narrations in the Puranas.

Confirming that the temple was not among protected monuments under central or state agencies, Bihar archaeology director Atul Kumar Verma told The Telegraph: "It falls under the state religious trust board and we cannot interfere in it. But we could look after it if its trustees, or district magistrate or public representative requests us to conserve it."

An official from the archaeology directorate said on condition of anonymity that various idols at the Deo Temple were wearing out from continuous offering of water and milk by devotees.

"Many devotees also apply vermilion on the statues after pouring water and milk. All these have taken a toll," the archaeology expert said, adding it was high time the government stepped in to protect it.

Krishna Chaudhary, secretary of the temple trust board, said he and other trust members agreed there was a problem. "Layers of stone used to build the main dome and sanctum sanctorum are falling apart. At places the structure is weakening. The idols are changing colour because of chemical reaction from the vermillion. We feel something should be done to protect this place. We are thinking of cordoning off the place to keep people at bay," Krishna said.

Aurangabad sub-divisional officer (SDO) Surendra Prasad, also the president of the Deo Temple trust board, said over 7 lakh devotees were expected to converge there during Chhath this year.

"Some things can't be helped," SDO Surendra said. "A thunderbolt struck the temple some months ago. The temple survived but the priest inside the sanctum sanctorum fell unconscious and several birds sitting on the dome died. The temple is developing cracks and bits of the structure keep falling." The SDO added that a lightning conductor was needed urgently at the temple and work on it will be commenced after Chhath.

"We have also written to the ASI, tourism department, art, culture and youth department, under which the state archaeology directorate falls, telling them that there was a need to take care of the ancient temple and conserve it. The letter was sent around a month ago, but we are still to hear from them," he said.