SUN TEMPLE KASHMIR

By – Aditya Saharia

About Sun Temple

The Martand Sun Temple was a Kashmiri Hindu temple dedicated to Surya (the chief solar deity in Hinduism) and built during the 8th century C.E. Martand is another Sanskrit name for the Hindu Sun-god. Now in ruins, the temple is located five miles from Anantnag in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

HistoryThe Martand Sun Temple is highly revered as one of the most inspiring and memorable masterpiece that was erected during the reign of King Lalit Aditya who ruled this region during the ancient era. He ordered the construction of this spacious and spectacular Martand Sun Temple in Kashmir in honor and dedication to the Sun God, also referred to as Surya.The King belonged to the Surya dynasty period, and was a Kshatriya, considered to be a highly authoritative figure, yet considerate and gentle leader to his people, during those times. It was during his era when the Sun, Moon and Holy entities were greatly worshipped and believed to possess spiritual and supernatural powers. Built to represent this Solar or Surya Dynasty, King had the Martand Temple built to commemorate Bhaskar, known then as the Sun God.

Vision of Sun TempleThe vision of King Lalit Aditya was to create a unique style of architecture and construction of this temple structure that will be remembered for eternity. His dream and vision was realized with the skilled exhibition of the way the Martand Sun Temple was designed. This is one of the most rare temple structures that one would notice nowhere else in India but only in Kashmir and probably in the history of the world as well.

Greek InfluenceThe Ancient  Temple Architecture of Kashmir  undoubtedly  bears  Greek  influence. This influence is starkly visible  in  the use of stone Pillars , Columns , Trefoil  Doorways , Ornamental  fritters  , Geometrical designs especially the rectangle and  Triangles  , Images of Gods  Carved on stones and  Pediments . Kashmiri  Stone Architects made some amendments to suit Intense winters . This influence is clearly visible in Martanda  and  Awantipora  stone Temple Architecture   .

How Greek?Kashmir came under  the occupation of the  Greek King MENADER . He was a devotee of Buddha but afterwards left the throne and joined the SANGHA and at last became an ARHANT . He built a Vihara which came to be known as MILINDVIHARA  after the name of its founder

This temple is  enclosed in a courtyard  of columns and Arches  forming covered passage all round it

Accordingly Many three faced Vishnu and some Chaturbhuja Vishnu  figures have been prominently carved on the walls of  this  Temple

The outer dimension of this temple is approximately about 200 feet by 170 feet rising up-to a height of 75 feet

The temple has a colonnaded courtyard, with its primary shrine in its center and surrounded by 84 smaller shrines, stretching to be 220 feet long and 142 feet broad total and incorporating a smaller temple that was previously built. In accordance with Hindu temple architecture, the primary entrance to the temple is situated in the western side of the quadrangle and is the same width as the temple itself, creating grandeur. The entrance is highly reflective of the temple as a whole due to its elaborate decoration and allusion to the deities worshiped inside.

Sanctum

Peristyle

Entrance Portico

Sun Temple Plan

The central place of the sacred stupa is taken up by a shrine of the Shankaracharya type. The form of the trefoil arch abutment that was the entrance to the Shankaracharya has been added on all the four sides, and the temple is set on a high square platform.

The perfectly symmetrical design of the Sun Temple also reminds one of the temple of Deogarh. Also the Entrance pylon to the rectangular courtyard defined by the niches is, in its architectonics, a replica of the central shrine.

SYMMETRY

These columns shows the rhythm in plan as they are repeated.

Rhythm of Plan

Focus of Plan

Hierarchy of Plan

This shows the hierarchy by shape.

This shows the hierarchy by focus.

The Linear line passes through the center of Temple and indicates the linear focal.

Liner-Focal Of Sun Temple

Grid Of Sun Temple

Elevation of Sun Temple

Human Scale (Anthro)

The inner MANDAPA measures roughly 18 feet by 18 feet . About 84 stone pillars Ten to twelve feet long in single piece have been used in the construction. Some of them are still erect and the remaining are broken and scattered inside the complex.

Form Analysis

Solid-Voids

Parapet

Ceiling

PlinthDoor/Doorway

Windows/perforations

RuinsUnfortunately this 8th centaury Marvel  faced Demolition   during the rule of Sultan Sikander (  1394-1417 AD ) of  Kashmir. The Temple structure would have been  as imposing  as the Pyramids of GIZA or   ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS  had human hands not joined in its destruction.

Thank You