Martand Sun Temple

• Some members of a Hindu religious group forced their way into the Martand Sun Temple.

ABOUT MARTAND SUN TEMPLE

• The 8^th century temple is attributed to Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty.
• The temple is located near the city of Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It was dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity in Hinduism.
  • Surya is also known by the Sanskrit-language synonym Martand.
• The ruins of temple have been protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), including during the decade of militancy in the 1990s, as a “monument of national importance”.
• The Martand Temple has three distinct chambers—the mandapa, the garbhagriha, and the antralaya—probably the only three-chambered temple in Kashmir.
• The temple is built in a unique Kashmiri style, though it has definite Gandhar influences.
• This courtyard was enclosed by a colonnade, which seem to have consisted of 84 pillars.
• The central shrine, or vimana, stands tall at around 60 feet.
  • It features intricate carvings and sculptures that depict various Hindu gods and goddesses.
• It is believed to be the oldest Sun temple and was said to have been destroyed during the reign of Sikandar Shah Miri, who ruled from 1389 to 1413.