Martand
Temple is located at a distance of 5 miles from Anantnag. One has to go 2km from Mattan to
reach Ranbirpora village on Mattan Karewa (Plateau) to reach it which is on an
elevation of 5817feet Mean Sea Level.
Martand
is called as "Mattan" in corrupt Kashmirian pronunciation.It is usually called the House of Pandus by the Hindus and by local parlance.
H.S. Tarik Hassan
recognizes it with the name of Martandashwar and referred that it was built by
Raja Ram Dev on Mattan Karewa (Plateau) in the year 95
Kaljugi. He mentions that the temple was repaired by Raja Lalitaditya during
his rule and adorned with gold.
It is also marked by a magnificent spring (traditionally represented as two- Vimala and Kamala) which in ancient legend connects with birth of sun god Martanda.
It is
built on top of a plateau from where one can view whole of the Kashmir Valley.
It has blended Gandharan, Gupta, Chinese, Roman, Syrian-Byzantine and Greek
forms of architecture.
The
central building is 63 feet in length and 36 feet in width and
has antarala and ardhamandapa.
There
are in all 84 columns. The number 84 is accounted sacred
by the Hindus in consequence of its being the multitude of the number of days
in the week with the number of signs in the Zodiac.
MARTAND SUN TEMPLE- Front view |
Central Shrine- MARTAND SUN TEMPLE |
The damaged left corridor |
LEGEND
OF THE MARTAND:
According
to Local legend, Surya the Sun God of Hindu mythology was born to Aditi from a
lifeless egg called Martanda (Mart-Dead and Anda-Egg). Aditi was wife of
Kashyap, saint from whom Kashmir probably takes its name. Surya was her 13th
child.
Kalhana in
his RAJATARANGINI
gives contradictory reference regarding the founder of Martanda. At
one place he mentioned that king Ranaditya founded Martand. And in another book
he mentions famous warrior king Lalitaditya Muktapida an ardent worshiper of
sun defeated King Yashovarman of Kannauj and he paid homage to fierce luminary
by founding Martanda.
Walter Lawrence in
his book THE
VALLEY OF KASHMIR is of view that temple must have started somewhere
around 370-500 AD
and completed during the reign of Lalitaditya.
Alexander Cunningham
attributes the Main temple to Ranaditya (AD 578-594) and
side chapels to his queen Amritaprakha.
The left chapel |
The right chapel |
Fergusson in
his book KASHMIR:
a HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION thinks it was probably built about
100years after the temple at Awantipura, about AD 852 or 853.
S.N.Dhar in
his book KASHMIR:
EDEN OF THE EAST says that King Ram Dev of Pandava Dyansty in 3007BC
built the Temple of Martand.
This
temple of Martanda is dedicated to Vishnu in his incarnation as the sun. The principal deity can no longer be seen.
Damaged idols of two female goddesses- we can notice some dismantled idols on the lower platform |
I could identify the image of Murari- Lord Krishna |
It is also marked by a magnificent spring (traditionally represented as two- Vimala and Kamala) which in ancient legend connects with birth of sun god Martanda.
Spring in front of the central shrine |
The Ardhamandapa |
The Antarala |
Columns and the mandapa |
The Mandapa |
The
Garbagriha is thought to have had a pyramidal top.
A side shrine |
DESTRUCTION:
The
vandalism of Martand Sun Temple started during the rule of Sultan Sikander
But-Shikan of Kashmir at the end of 14th CE.
The interior of the temple was
set on fire and it took one year for him to dismantle it.
A destructed Toran |
Of
all the ruins in Kashmir the Martand ruins are both remarkable and most
characteristic. No temple is ever built on a finer site. It stands on an open
plain; behind it raises a range of snowy mountains.
It deserves this account for its solidarity
and massive grandeur.
Restored Image of Martand Temple... |
I
end this post with a poem from CHENAR LEAVES- Poems of
Kashmir
written by Mrs. Percy Brown (in 1921)
THE RUINED TEMPLE OF MARTAND
THE RUINED TEMPLE OF MARTAND
On
slope of vast and undulating plain,
In solemn solitude, of noble art,
The
ancient ruins of Martand remain
Built for sun worship once, has the
true part.
Of
thy prone columns faded like a dream?
Engirdled by the everlasting hills
O
temple of the Sun! His radiant beam
Illumines this broken altar and still
fills
These
shattered halls at dawn with his clear light
Though
human hands may no more loving tend.
The
sun’s pure glory is God’s symbol bright,
Thus
thy great destiny can never end;
Still
eloquent of prayers, though stones decay
And forms of ancient creeds have
passed away.