Martand Sun Temple
The ruins of the Sun Temple of Martand are located in the Anantnag district in the Indian Union of Jammu and Kashmir and are of great historical and cultural importance for the Kashmir Valley . In addition, the early Hindu temples of Kashmir are of great political importance in the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan over the belonging of the region.
location
The temple complex of Martand is located together with the - probably later added - village Mattan on a hill plateau at a distance of about 8 km east of the city of Anantnag at an altitude of about 1720 m above sea level. d. M .; the distance from Srinagar is about 65 km in a southeast direction.
history
The temple, consecrated to the Hindu sun god Surya (other Sanskrit name: Martand ), was built by King Lalitaditya -Muktapida (ruled approx. 723-760) from the Karkota dynasty in the first half of the 8th century - possibly on the site of a previous building from the 4th or 5th century - built. At the beginning of the 15th century, the troops of the Muslim conqueror Sikandar Butshikan (r. 1389–1413) destroyed the temple complex. It was not until the 19th century that the British , who ruled India at that time, discovered the building and its significance; They then undertook extensive security and restoration measures.
architecture
The main temple rises in a recessed, rectangular inner courtyard surrounded by walls about 3 m high, the side lengths of which are about 67 m × 43 m. The peristyle- like and formerly covered walkway contained a total of 81 niches in which four-armed figures of gods were located; the niches were each framed by two richly decorated half columns and each had a trapezoidal cantilever vaulted roof , within which a three-pass arch framed the figure's head and shoulders. The lower-lying walls of the inner courtyard were also decorated with small figures (musicians, dancers, etc.). The main temple consisted of a small vestibule ( mandapa ) with side annex buildings, an anteroom ( antarala ) and the actual cella ( garbhagriha ), which was probably covered by a stepped pyramidal roof; it was surrounded by several smaller temples, so that a panchayatana complex was created. The elevated entrances to the main temple and courtyard are each to the west; the cella therefore faces east.
See also
literature
- Michael W. Meister u. a. (Ed.): Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture. North India - Foundations of North Indian Style. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1988, pp. 363ff ISBN 0-691-04053-2 .
Web links
- Martand Sun Temple - Photos and information (English)
- Temple of the Sun of Martand - Information (English)
Coordinates: 33 ° 44 ′ 44 ″ N , 75 ° 13 ′ 13 ″ E