Pandrethan Shiva Temple

History

Pandrethan

Pandrethan has been identified as the original site of the capital city of Srinagar, founded by Ashoka. During the 6th century CE, the capital was shifted a few kilometres northwest, resulting in the area being called puranadhisthana, meaning 'old capital' in Sanskrit, with Srinagar being used as a name for the new capital. The present name, Pandrethan, is a corruption of the Sankrit name. By the 19th century, the area was littered with ancient ruins. Excavations at Pandrethan on the site of ruins of two Buddhist stupas and a monastery in 1915 resulted in the discovery of several Budhhist sculptures and fragments. During the 1920s, the area was appropriated for military use and cleared of most ruins, and by 1930s military barracks had been built close to the Shiva temple. While digging for building the foundations of these barracks, twenty Hindu sculptures were accidentally discovered, including eight sculptures of Shiva, seated as well as standing, five of Matrika goddesses, and one each of Ganga and Ganesha. These artefacts date variously to the 2nd and 8th century, and later.

Shiva Temple

The present building of the Shiva temple, the only ancient remnant from Pandrethan to survive, was built sometime in the 8th–9th century CE. The temple was originally part of a much larger complex. In 1665, the temple, then in a ruined state, was likely visited by François Bernier during his visit to the Kashmir Valley. During the 19th century, the temple was visited, sketched and photographed by several British and other European visitors, many of whom noted its exceptionally well-preserved stone ceiling. Its smaller size and partially submerged condition may have prevented demolition by later Muslim rulers. The temple's roof had likely sustained some damage from an earthquake in 1828, and possibly from two late 18th century earthquakes earlier.

The temple was earlier wrongly identified by 19th-century colonial visitors as the Meruvardhanaswami temple described in the Rajatarangini of Kalhana, which was built in the 10th century by Meruvardhana, a minister during the rule of the Utpala dynasty. However, the Meruvardhanaswami temple was dedicated to Vishnu, while the temple at Pandrethan is a Shiva temple. Identification of the temple with another, early 12th century Shiva temple mentioned in the Rajatarangini was proposed, but has been rejected by scholars. Based on architectural and stylistic features of the structure and sculptures, scholars date the temple to c. 8th–9th century CE. The temple is currently situated inside an army cantonment called Badami Bagh. In 2021, the temple underwent further restoration and a park was constructed around it to exhibit artefacts excavated from its surrounding area.