Avantiswami Temple

The Avantiswami Temple is an ancient ruined Hindu temple located on the banks of the Jhelum River, 28 km away from Srinagar in Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It's ruins once consisted of two temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu,[1] and were built under king Avantivarman of the Utpala dynasty in the 9th century CE. The site is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.[2][3] Locals call the temple Pandav Lari, meaning "house of the Pandavas".[4]

Avantiswami Temple
Remains of Avantiswami Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictPulwama
Deity
Governing bodyIndian Archaeological Survey
Location
LocationAwantipora
StateJammu and Kashmir
CountryIndia
Avantiswami Temple is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Avantiswami Temple
Location within Jammu & Kashmir, India
Avantiswami Temple is located in India
Avantiswami Temple
Avantiswami Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates33.9232602°N 75.012846°E / 33.9232602; 75.012846
Architecture
TypeMedieval Hindu
FounderAvantivarman
Date established9th century CE

History

The temple was built by king Awantivarman in the year 853–855 CE. Originally known as Viswasara, the ancient town was also a capital city. Avantivarman was also the founder of Avantipur and of the Utpala dynasty in the 9th century CE. He had built many Hindu temples in Kashmir during his reign, which were largely destroyed due to Muslim conquests.[5] During the reign of Avantivarman, the region prospered. The Avantiswami Temple is an example of the stone temple architecture of Kashmir during that era.

Prior to the Muslim conquests, Kashmir was a centre of Shaivism and Hindu philosophy, and a seat of Sanskrit learning and literature. By the 14th century, Kashmir had come under Muslim rule, and most of its early temples were deserted or sacked by the early 15th century. Two temples here are attributed to him: the Avantiswami Temple dedicated to Vishnu and the Avantishwara Temple dedicated to Shiva. The Avantiswami is smaller in size, but similar to the earlier Martand Sun Temple in planning.[6][7]

References

  1. "Origin of Lord Shiva and Vishnu - Relationship Between Shiva & Vishnu". TemplePurohit - Your Spiritual Destination | Bhakti, Shraddha Aur Ashirwad. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  2. "Avantiswami Temple, Avantipur". Archeological Survey of India. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  3. Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 295. ISBN 978-8122-411-98-0.
  4. "The History Behind Avantipura". GK.
  5. "Early Muslim Conquests (622-656 CE)". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  6. "Lost in the rubble". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  7. "Kashmir. General view of ruins of Temple of Avantiswami at Avantipore. Probable date A.D. 852 to 854". British Library. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
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