Sun Temples in India are not easy to visit. They were the most magnificent temples once upon a time, but today they lie in absolute ruins. I have seen Konark Sun Temple in the East with missing Garbhagriha. Then, there is Modhera Sun Temple in the west located on the tropic of cancer in Gujarat, with an empty Garbhagriha.
After a long wait, I got to visit the one in the North – Martand Sun Temple in Anantnag of Kashmir valley. I hope to see the Multan one which I know is almost non-existent, but the place must have experienced the worship of Surya Dev once. From the images, I knew that Martand temple is in ruins, but I still wanted to see it. I wanted to stand there and imagine how it must have been in its hay days, more than 1000 years ago.
What is Martand?
Martand is one of the names of Sun. It comes from Mrit+Anda, which means the dead egg. Story goes that Sun was born from a lifeless egg to Rishi Kashyap and his wife Aditi. Remember he is also called Aditya as he is the son of Aditi. Martand is also one of the key Bhairavas, but this temple in Kashmir is dedicated to Surya Deva.

At the Mattan Surya temple, which is a practicing temple in Mattan village, priest told me that this is where the Surya was born as son of Kashyap Muni. Remember Kashmir is the tapobhumi of Kashyap Rishi and gets its name from him. This is where his progeny began and we all indeed trace our lineage back to him finally.
Nilamata Purana that talks extensively about the Kashmir region, talks about this region as the Martand Tirtha. Fresh water springs are a part of the Tirtha kshetra here.
Sun worship must have been prevalent across India, but unfortunately all our prominent Sun temples are in ruins. Hope ASI takes up and revives at least the big ones and makes them practicing temples.
History of Martand Sun Temple
Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty built the Martand Sun Temple between 724-760 CE. It is believed that he had installed a Copper Murti of the Surya Deva called Tamra Swami.

In late 11th CE, Kalasa, a Lohara dynasty king replaced it with a golden Murti.
The temple was continuously worshiped till late 14th CE when it was desecrated and destroyed by Sikandar Miri.
It is said that the massive earthquake of 1554 CE did not impact the sacred spots of Martanda, Vijayeshwara and Varaha Kshetra. In my opinion, this needs to be studied, from a sacred geography perspective.
Abul…
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