On my journey into learning about
Shaivism, I knew once I’ll need to visit Kashmir, the home of Shaivism.
And finally when I reached here, my first wish was to visit the
Shankaracharya temple. The temple, situated atop the hill
Takt-e-Suleiman, was built around 371BC by Raja Gopadatya. The works of
Kalhana’s Ranjatarangini gives details about the history of this temple.
Adi Shankaracharya stayed here when he visited Kashmir to revive
Sanatan Dharma and hence the current name.
The Shankracharya Temple is dedicated to
Lord Shiva and is thought to be the oldest shrine in the Kashmir valley.
The temple, as it stands today, has undergone many repairs throughout
its life. The temple is of great importance, not only from the point of
view of religion, but also from architectural viewpoint. A high
octagonal platform supports the temple, approached by a flight of
approximately 250+ steps. The sidewalls of the steps once bore some
valuable inscriptions which are now lost after repairs. There is also a
Persian inscription inside the temple.
Though the stair’s inscription was not
saved, in Kalhana’s work you do get to know the details of the
inscriptions. The hill had different names time to time and finally got
the current name after a person named Sulaiman (also called Solomon)
invaded; he came along with his throne, hence the name Takt-e-Sulaiman.
The Persian inscriptions on the stairs said about a visit of a person
with the name Yuz Asaf during the reign of Raja Gopadri. He supposedly
with his followers renovated the temple. The inscription mentions Yuz
Asaf as a prophet from Israel. If you go through Persian literature, you
do get to read about a saint named Yuz Asaf. The Jami – uf – Tamarik,
Volume II mentions him, you get to read about him also in Agha Mustafa’s
“Awhali Shahai-i-paras” that tell of Yuz Asaf’s travels and teachings
all over Persia.
I would refrain from coming to any
conclusion and leave it upon readers. But the details about Yuz Asaf are
indeed interesting and raise lot of curiosity as to his identity &
visit to Kashmir!! Maybe after checking out with Rozabal shrine might
again update more about Yuz Asaf.
Here
are few clicks of the temple. The temple is heavily guarded by army and
you are not allowed to take camera or phone. So took help from army men
atop to click and forward me the photographs.
250+ stairs up and then you reach the hill top
The shivling inside the temple.
Old photographs of the temple, from around 1850s. Courtesy: Google
250 stairs :O How to go???