Kashmir. Temple of Sankaragaureswara near the village of Pathan. Niche on the left of entrance. Probable date A.D.883 to 901 Photographer: Burke, John Date: 1868 1 they are seen as a late flowering of Kashmiri temple architecture.' Modern Patan. together with the highly decorated pillars in the porches. 2 . all prove that the style of building practised in Kashmir since the erection of the Jyeshteswara Temple. They are built to much the same plan as earlier temples but their stones display a greater refinement and precision of cutting and carving. The former is named after the ruler and the latter is said to be named after his queen. This photograph is reproduced in Henry Hardy Cole's Archaeological Survey of India Report 'Illustrations of Ancient Buildings in Kashmir. located about 27 kms from Srinagar. the Sankaragaurishwara Temple and the Sugandhesha Temple. By this time Kashmir had become a great centre of the Shaivite spirituality and philosophy.. Sankaravarman built two temples of which only the ruins remain. and some of the details are as sharp and clear as when first cut. is the site of Shankarapattana which was founded by Shankaravarman of Kashmir's Utpala dynasty (ruled 883902) as his capital. Like his predecessor Avantivarman.The repetition of the pediments one above the other. had in the progress of time followed the natural tendency for greater elaboration. This is a close view of a sculpture within a damaged pedimented niche.. The degree of elaboration in the porch-like projections and interior carvings.Photograph of the Sankaragaurishwara temple at Patan in Jammu and Kashmir taken by John Burke in 1868. Both dedicated to Shiva.' (1869) and the building therein described: 'The Temple of Sankara Gaureswara is elaborately carved. on the road between Srinagar and Baramula: view of the front or west face Photographer: Burke. John Date: 1868 3 .Shankaragaurishvara Temple at Patan. in which he wrote. They are built to much the same plan as earlier temples but their stones display a greater refinement and precision of cutting and carving.” (1869). on the road between Srinagar and Baramula in Jammu and Kashmir. all prove that the style of building practiced in Kashmir since the erection of the Jyeshteswara Temple.Photograph of the Sankaragaurishwara temple at Patan. with a measuring scale and a figure posed in the foreground. located about 27 km from Srinagar. The repetition of the pediments one above the other. is the site of Shankarapattana which was founded by Shankaravarman of Kashmir's Utpala dynasty (ruled 883-902) as his capital. Like his predecessor Avantivarman. is reproduced in Henry Hardy Cole's Archaeological Survey of India report. 4 . “Illustrations of Ancient Buildings in Kashmir. the Sankaragaurishwara Temple and the Sugandhesha Temple. and some of the details are as a sharp and clear as when first cut. had in the progress of time followed the natural tendency for greater elaboration. they are seen as a late flowering of Kashmiri temple architecture. Both dedicated to Shiva. By this time Kashmir had become a great centre of the Shaivite spirituality and philosophy. Shankaravarman built two temples of which only the ruins remain. The former is named after the ruler and the latter is said to be named after his queen. taken by John Burke in 1868. The degree of elaboration in the porch-like projections and interior carvings. “The Temple of Sankara Gaureshwara is elaborately carved.” Modern Patan. This general view of the west façade. together with the highly decorated pillars in the porches. SUGANDHESA AND SHANKARA GAURISA TEMPLES OF PATTAN KASHMIR 5 . 6 . Photographs ByAutar Mota 7 . ” (Taranga 5 Canto 157 Rajatarangini ) “In association with her. the king. the king who was comparable to the king of gods.” (Taranga 5 Canto 128 Rajatarangini ) “By him the daughter of the illustrious Swami raja. in that fine town. named Sugandha was the beloved as is the night of full moon by the moon. learned in four Vedas who was the noble of the shrine of the goddess of speech.” (Taranga 5 Canto 158 Rajatarangini ) “A Brahmin named Nayaka . in order to make his own city celebrated. carried away everything belonging to Parihaspora :” (Taranga 5 canto 160 Rajatarangini ) “Cloth weaving. was placed in charge of the two temples of SIVA.” (Taranga 5 Canto 159 Rajatarangini ) “Thus the petty minded king.“ (Taranga 5 canto 162 Rajatarangini ) 8 . sale and purchase of live sock and similar things which were the basis of fame of Pattana were once in that city. the lord of the northern region. constructed SANKARA GAURISA and SUGANDHESA.(From top to bottom: First five photographs were taken at Sugandhesa Temple ruins and last three were taken at Shankara Gaurisa Temple ruins) “There upon the Chamberlain Ratnavardhana laboured and made Sankaravarman the son of Avantivarman. The temples are located at village PATTAN on right side of main highway once you go from Srinagar to Baramulla . I visited both the monuments thrice in 2009. The temples are about 300 meters apart and beautiful gardens have been laid presently beside these monuments by Archeological survey of India. Both are protected monuments. The temples were laid in conjunction with his queen Sugandha. they still catch your eye even if you move past them in a bus or car or any other mode of transport. Both the temples had outer stone wall and a central Shiva temple with Sanctum Sanctorum.This is the story of two temple complexes on Srinagar Baramulla road known as PAANDAV LAARIE (PANDVA’s ABODE) by people over here. In fact he tried to do what his father had done by laying similar temples at Avantipora. The area used to be called PATTANA as per Kalhana and later came to be known as Sankarapura . SANKARA GAURISA Temple is close to the town and has a Tonga stand near it. The temples were laid by king Sankaravarman who succeeded his father king Avantivarman and reigned from AD 883 to 901AD. 9 . There are various images in the lower and larger panels of this Temple structure. The temples are in big stones and resemble MARTAND style of temple architecture of Kashmir. Most of the European travelers to Kashmir saw these temples in bad shape almost as ruins in total neglect. Sankarvarman built his kingdom's capital in Sankarpura (Pattan). The entrance to the Sankara Gaurishvara temple is through the square space in the middle of the eastern path. have sunk into the ground due reason of its long neglect. In spite of neglect. All the six photographs at the top of this post relate to SUGANDESH while below uploaded four photographs were taken by me in and around SANKARA GAURISA. Some parts of the Sankara Gaurisa temple. the temple plinth and a small shrine in the northeast corner. Thanks to Kalhana. the story of the temples known as SUGANDHESA and SANKARA GAURISA is well documented in Taranga 5 of his monumental work Rajatarangini. While SUGANDHESA Temple structure is in a larger area. including the colonnade.Both the temples were dedicated to Mahadeva or Shiva by the king. This queen was executed during the reign of king PARTHA (906-921 AD) who had come under the influence of TANTRINS. “Sahib ji. They noticed me but ignored my physical presence. ” I felt shame is my problem not theirs. I have found the new generation of kashmiri children sharp. ” Meaning “Take our snap also. Don’t you find our faces worth photographing. Beqal haa Saa ” “Sir I shall tell them nothing. It took me some time to take inner views of SHANKARA GAURISA temple. On My return from these monuments I told my driver as to how rapidly values have changed in Kashmir. (Text and Photo by Autar Mota) 10 .According to Lawrence: "There are many ominous cracks on the walls. intelligent and sincere. Zunn Chhunaa Assi Kenh Sonch Naa samajh. “Tul Assi Ti Tul Saa Photo. Just Fools. In fact I wanted to take some pictures of the monument but I found two boys and a girl sitting inside the monument in a posture that made me feel ashamed. These young men think that we elders are a stone in their path. Having failed to seek help of Abdul Salam. yum Besharam Londaa Jamaat Chhe Assi bhudan samjhaan buss vatti Hunz Kaen. Abdul Salam was right. Mohd Sultan Khuroos and Agha Shahid Alis. They need a direction and environment. I hold a firm belief that Kashmir can produce many many Fayaz shawls. Baa vanay naa kenh yimun. I went again and requested them that I wanted to take a photograph and would be pleased if they could move to one side for just two minutes. the destruction of both the buildings is imminent. I do not blame youngsters alone. and if the forest trees which have taken root in these crevices are allowed to remain and spread. Assi Chhanaa Shaqal photovuss laayakh. He agreed and blamed the younger generation. As if we can neither think nor understand. ”That is what Abdul Salam the tonga owner from Tonga stand outside the Shankara Gaurisa told me. One of the boys turned to me and said smilingly." (see page 125 of the Valley of Kashmir ) Kalhana records that Sankarvarman practically took everything from Parihaaspora (a city built by our illustrious king Lalitaditya nearby these temple structures ) to build his new capital at PATTAN. 11 .
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