The Shankaragaurishvara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

god, Shiva and located in Pattan, in the Baramulla district of

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...

, India. The temple was built by king Shankaravarman of the

Utpala dynasty Utpala dynasty was a Kashmiri dynasty which ruled over the Kashmir region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent from 8th to 10th century CE. The kingdom was established by Avanti Varman, ending the rule of Karkota dynasty in 855 CE. ...

Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...

, who ruled between 883 and 902 AD. The temple is in a dilapidated condition and worship is no longer conducted. It is built in a style similar to the Shankaracharya Temple. It is listed as one of the more than 15 important temples for promotion of tourism in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

History

The temple was built by king Shankaravarman (883–902). His father Avantivarman had established the

and after his death in 883 his son succeeded him. He built the temple in his capital city, then known as Shankarapattana, which is the present-day Patan, away from

Srinagar Srinagar (English: , ) is the largest city and the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies in the Kashmir Valley on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus, and Dal and Anchar lakes. The city is known for its natu ...

city, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. He dedicated the temple to Lord Shiva. It is named after the king himself. His religious affiliation was of

Shaivism. Apart from this temple, he also built another temple, next to it, in honour of his wife and named it the Sugandhesha Temple, which was also dedicated to Lord Shiva; built to the same plan and with intricate carvings. But it is of a much smaller size. Both the temples are seen in a dilapidated condition. Pattan Monument

Features

The temple's entrance porch, facing east, exhibits intricately sculpted carvings both on its exterior fascia as well as in the interior surfaces, and appears as if they are freshly chiseled and carved though built in late ninth century. The pediments are stacked symmetrically one above the other. The columns at the entrance are also elaborately sculpted in an architectural style which is akin to Kashmiri architecture, particularly in relation to the detailing. The plinth of the temple, and of the shrine next to it, is built in a peristyle, an open colonnaded pattern, within a walled enclosure, which is in the form of a cellular passage, remnants of which are still visible.

References

External links

{{Hindu Temples in Jammu and Kashmir Shiva temples in Jammu and Kashmir Hindu temples in Jammu and Kashmir Buildings and structures in Jammu and Kashmir Archaeological sites in Jammu and Kashmir Baramulla district