Abandonment is a complex subject. There are areas of the city that are overlooked by society and are collectively forgotten. Many buildings, from the extremely old to the newly constructed to the incomplete, might suffer from this misfortune. The word “forgotten heritage” is ambiguous. How can heritage, which implies that it has an actual value, be forgotten? The importance of abandoned heritage sites for community identity cannot be overstated. They are spaces that provide a blank canvas for the creative fulfilment of current needs while also maintaining a sense of continuity with the past. One of such spaces is the Martand Sun Temple, located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir state with beautiful, serene mountains in the background. One might have seen this marvel if they took their eyes off Shahid Kapoor in Haider, while the Bismil song was playing. According to Tareek- e- Haasan, the oldest written history of Kashmir, on a plateau in South Kashmir, a monarch named Raja Ranadatiya created a city called Babul and decided to erect Martandeshwari temple in front of his palace, which is reported to have been completed by king Lalitaditya Muktapida, the third ruler of the Karkota Dynasty. Some speculate that the Martand Surya Mandir was built between 370 and 500 CE, while it is also said to have been erected by Samdhimati Aryaraja (35 BCE). A plaque outside the temple quotes, “Dedicated to Martand, the Sun God, Temple was built by Lalitaditya Muktapida. It represents the apogee of Kashmir temple architecture and is unique for its dimensions and grandeur. The main shrine is built in the centre of a courtyard with a cellular peristyle. The imposing gateway has human figures, floral scrolls, pairs of geese and figures of Vishnu. The main shrine consists of an oblong garbha griha (sanctum), antrala (vestibule) and spacious mandapa. The images carved on sidewalls of antrala and mandapa are of Ganga, Yamuna, Vishnu, and other deities. The small shrines within the courtyard are later finely dressed. Devri stone is used in the construction of the temple. The large earthen jars within the compound, some of which are still in situ, were unearthed during excavations.” The Mandir’s architectural style combines real Kashmiri architecture with Gandharan, Gupta, Chinese, Roman, Syrian-Byzantine, and even Greek architectural traditions, making it nothing less than a masterpiece. The Martand Sun Temple is a stunning example of 8th-century architectural brilliance, with many distinctive features. The Temple, for example, is designed so that sunlight falls on the deity’s idol throughout the day. Moreover, there are 365 holy pictures etched on the temple’s walls, one for each day of the year. This temple’s vast wealth attracted a large number of ill-willed individuals. As a result, the Martand Sun Temple has been subjected to several attacks over the years. However, it was destroyed during the reign of Sikandar Shah Miri, popularly known as ‘Sikandar the Iconoclast,’ in the early 15th century. He was responsible for forcing Hindus to convert to Islam and notorious for his zeal for destroying temples, infidel idols, and idol-houses. He demolished countless Hindu temples in his crazed rage, including the Martand Sun Temple. It was a magnificent temple, and it is reported that it took him a whole year and a determined team to destroy the Martand Sun Temple. Many historians believe he ordered the temple’s interiors to be filled with timber and set on fire. Even though the fire raged for a long time, it was unable to demolish Martand Sun Temple. Despite his zealous efforts, the Sultan was unable to demolish the robust temple and the central shrine of Martand Sun Temple remains tall. Unfortunately, the temple was never repaired, and it has been in ruins ever since. Sadly, the temple is now on the verge of collapse. Despite its historical, architectural, and religious importance, the temple has been neglected for many years. However, the temple’s ruins do not fail to remind one of its former splendour and still serves as an example of that era’s magnificent architectural style. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has designated Martand’s ancient Sun temple as a National Monument and a Centrally Protected Monument. Despite this, the officials’ attempts to repair the site have been half-hearted which is perhaps the reason why our historical marvel is in ruins.
REFERENCES AND CITATIONS
• https://www.wbglobe.com/martand-sun-temple-priceless-heritage-of-kashmir/
• http://asoulwindow.com/martand-sun-temple-guide-the-lost-hindu-temple-of-kashmir/
Comments