BY AUTAR MOTA
EMPEROR LALITADITYA MUKTAPIDA OF KASHMIR
Lalitaditya Muktapida (R.C. 724 CE–760 CE) was a powerful Kayastha ruler of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir . Kalhana , the 12th century chronicler ,calls him universal monarch or the conqueror of the world, crediting him with far-reaching conquests from Central Asia to shores of Arabian sea in India. According to Kalhana, Lalitaditya defeated King Yashovarman of Kannauj, and then marched to eastern and southern parts of India. Art historian, Hermann Goetz writes that Lalitaditya’s kingdom stretched from the Hindu Kush mountains in modern day Afghanistan to Assam, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Central India and even to some parts of southern India. Lalitaditya went up to the shores of the Caspian sea and crossed Pamirs. He marched to Tibet and China. Wherever he went, he proved victorious.
The art historian , Hermann Goetz writes:-
“ Lalitaditya had to make use of artists from wherever he could find them, and in an empire extending from Bengal to the borders of Arab caliphate and from Central India to the borders of China proper, these artists had needs to be of many nations and traditions. This possibly was the reason behind heterogeneous styles and elements in Kashmiri art assimilating elements of Gandharan, Gupta, Chinese, and even Syrian-Byzantine origin.”
Lalitaditya is now accepted as the most powerful king of his dynasty. He built the largest empire after Ashoka. He is believed to have driven away the Arabs from north-western India and conquered ‘Tokharistan (North Hindukush) to control the international trade routes from Tokharistan to China by repeatedly defeating the then powerful Tibet. He checkmated China with his diplomacy A conqueror, builder, lover of fine arts, a tolerant king who commissioned a number of shrines in Kashmir, including the now-ruined Martand Sun Temple . He also established several towns, including a new capital at Parihasapura. He constructed massive edifices which have challenged the vagaries of time and stand out even today.
MARTAND SUN TEMPLE
Lalitaditya built the Martand Sun Temple in Kashmir on the plateau near Mattan town in South Kashmir. The location of the temple proves the skill and expertise of Kashmiri artisans of the period. It is said that from this temple, one could see the entire Lidder valley and the Shikhara of the demolished Vijeyshawara Shrine near the present-day Bijbihara town. The Martand Sun Temple is enclosed in a courtyard of columns and arches forming the covered passage all round it. The temple has 84 carved pillars many of which lie broken. Exquisite images carved on stones were used in the construction of this imposing Sun Temple. King Lalitaditya was a sun worshipper and a follower of the Vaishnava cult devoted to the worship of Keshva Vishnu. Accordingly, many three-faced Vishnu and some Chaturbhuja Vishnu figures were prominently carved on the walls of this temple. Most of these images are disfigured due to neglect and weathering. A central water tank with narrow water channels can be seen on the ground to this day. In the right panel of the eastern wall of the ante-chamber of this temple, an image of Aruna ( sun god) carved elegantly was faintly visible when I saw it in 1998.
Francis Young husband in his Book ‘KASHMIR’ Writes:-
“Martand has a very high place in the world’s great architectural designs. It is an example of not only the Kashmiri architectural skill but it has pride in having been set up at a fine spot which is prettier than the spots where Parthian, Taj Mahal, St. Peters have been built. It can be considered either a representative of all such great buildings and monuments or a combination and sum total of all the qualities. It gives an insight into the greatness of the people of Kashmir. In terms of beauty and strength and in grandeur it is next to Egypt and Greece. This temple has been built with strong and square lime stones. The temple has received grandeur and beauty through the pillars of Greek pattern. It is now in ruins and there are many such ruins scattered in Kashmir. The very existence of this temple encourages man to carry out a study of the skill and art of Kashmiris. Anyone bereft of the love of nature could not select such a special spot for the construction of the temple.”
Subash Kak, the noted scholar writes this:-
“ The Martanda temple, built by Lalitaditya, is one of the earliest and yet largest stone temples to have been built in Kashmir. The temple is rectangular in plan, consisting of a Mandapa and a shrine. Two other shrines flank the Mandapa. It is enclosed by a vast courtyard by a peristyle wall with 84 secondary shrines in it. The columns of the peristyle are fluted. Each of the 84 niches originally contained an image of a form of Surya. The number 84, as 21×4, appears to have been derived from the numerical association of 21 with the sun.”
It is believed that the ‘Martand Sun Temple’ was adorned with high relief carvings of themes relating to the cult of sun worship. This temple is believed to be the result of the cross-currents flowing from Roman, Byzantine, Sasanian and late Gupta period. Unfortunately, like many temples, this 8th century marvel faced demolition during the rule of Sultan Sikander Butshikan (1394-1417 A.D. ) of Kashmir. The temple would have been as imposing as the Pyramids of Giza or the Acropolis of Athens had human hands not joined in its destruction. Lamenting on the destruction and demolition of the Martand Sun Temple, the noted Persian chronicler ,Muhammad Azam Dedamiri in his book ‘Vaqaat i Kashmir’ writes, ‘The temple was destroyed during the reign of Sultan Sikander Butshikan. It was packed with firewood and burnt down. It kept burning for a long time. Brahmins who lived there were thrown out. The remnants are extant to this day in the middle of the area. It is desolate now, its palaces all ruined and the whole place a sad reminder of the glorious edifices of the ancient times.’
Autar Mota is a blogger and writes for local and national papers and journals
