Context: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism & Culture has recommended the government to allow worship at monuments protected by ASI having religious significance. Monuments are classified by ASI as living monuments and non-living monuments. Prayers are currently allowed at monuments which are living places of worship. Last year, a puja was performed at the Martand Sun Temple of Kashmir, which resulted into a controversy.
About Martand Sun Temple
- Martand Sun Temple is an 8th century AD Hindu Temple. The temple has been dedicated to Martand, the Sun God.
- Located in Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir.
- This temple has been constructed during the reign of Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty.
- Martand Temple has three distinct chambers - Mandapa, Garbhagriha and Antralaya - probably the only three chambered temples in Kashmir.
- Rajatarangini, written by Kalhana, decribes the grandeur of Martand Temple.
- Despite the temple being in ruins, it is the most striking example of Hindu temple architecture in Kashmir.
- Some walls of the temple have carvings of deities and temple is ringed by a row of pillars, which is a sub-style of Kashmiri temple architecture.
- The temple is believed to be architecture synthesis mixture of Hindu and Graeco-Roman styles of architectures.
- The temple is believed to be destroyed by Sikandar Shah Miri in the 14th century.
- Nearby town of Mattan is named after the Martand Sun Temple.
About Laliaditya Muktapida
- Lalitaditya Muktapida ruled Kashmir from 725 AD to 753 AD.
- Lalitaditya belonged to the Karkota dynasty.
- He built the capital of his kingdom at Parihaspora, the ruins of which survive to this day.
- Lalitaditya defeated central Indian king Yashovarman.
- He has been given the title of 'World Conqueror' by Kalhana as he ruled over a vast geography from Central Asia to Bengal.
- He is the most important ruler of Kashmir.