Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar is also known as ‘Jyesteshwara Temple’. This holy shrine is located in the south east of Srinagar on the top of the Takt-e-Suleiman hill which is also known as Shankaracharya hill. Though its current structure belongs to 9th century C.E. but it is believed to belong to 200 B.C. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Probably the temple was visited by Adi Shankaracharya, thus it is associated with him.
About Shankaracharya Temple :
The Shankaracharya temple is situated in the Srinagar district on the hill known as Takht-e-Suleiman. It is housed at a height of 1100 ft. above surface level of the main city on the hill. It is believed that Raja Gopadatya got the temple constructed in 371 BC, giving it the name of Gopadri. The great philosopher Shankaracharya is supposed to have stayed here when he visited Kashmir to revive Sanatan Dharma. This incident, which took place ten centuries ago, led to the renaming of the temple as the Shankracharya temple.
The Shankracharya Mandir of Kashmir, India 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 first repair is supposed to have been done under the rule of Lalitaditya. The second repairs were undertaken by Zain-ul-Abideen after the temple got damaged in an earthquake. These repairs were carried out during the Governorship of Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din. Maharaja Gulab Singh, a Dogra ruler, is credited for the stone steps that form a part of the passage to the shrine. The electrification of the Shankracharya temple was done in 1925.
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 hundred steps. The sidewalls of the steps once bore some valuable inscriptions. There is also a Persian inscription inside the temple, dating back to Emperor Shahjahan’s rule. The main surviving shrine, consisting of a circular cell, provides a magnificent view of the valley below. The inner chamber of the Shankaracharya temple, after being repaired, is now covered with a modern ceiling.
History :
Shankaracharya temple is thought to have been built around 200 B.C. The son of Emperor Asoka-Jaluka is credited for its construction. This sacred shrine is nestled at an altitude of about 1100 feet above the surface level. Local folks tell that the saint Adi Shankaracharya spent some time here during his trip to Kashmir in order to revive Sanatan Dharma.
Architecture Of The Shankaracharya Temple :
The alluring architectural technique can easily be seen in the structure of the Shankaracharya temple. The temple clearly defines that its architectural technique is reminiscent of prehistoric times. The temple is constructed on an elevated octagonal plane. The main shrine is a circle shaped chamber. It is decorated by numerous Persian inscriptions that date back to the reign of Shahjahan. The ceiling has gone through a number of repairs thus, it appears modern in approach. There are three hundred silver and golden images that are decorated in the temple. This temple can be reached by the steps that are bordered by side walls.
Renovations Of The Shankaracharya Temple :
Shankaracharya is a detached ridge of an igneous rock to the south east of Srinagar. It is separated from the Shalimar Range by the Aita Gaj Gap. Around 34 B.C, King Sandimati worked for the enhancement and adding to the grandeur of the Shankaracharya temple. In the 15th century A.D, Zain-ul-Abidin renovated its roof that had tumbled down because of an earthquake. Its dome was restored by a Sikh Governor-Sheikh Gulam Mohi-Din. Swami Shivratnanand also repaired its dome at the request of a Nepali ascetic. The ascetic supplied him some financial aid as well. At present the temple is under the control of the Dharmartha Department. Now the temple has two tiny buildings for the ascetics who live here. These buildings are constructed by the Dharmartha Department. An old stone shed is also here that is called ‘Parvatihund bana koth’ that means the house of Goddess Parvati.
The splendid Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar is considered to be the oldest temple in the valley of Kashmir. As clear from above account, the temple has undergone several renovations thus it has a modern shadow on it but still, it has managed to maintain its ancient beauty and grace that sends an invite to visit and admire this temple.
Best time to visit :
The best time to visit the Shankaracharya Temple is between May and September when the weather is pleasant. It snows in the winter months in and around Srinagar and winters are very severe.
Trivia :
The sidewalls of the steps to the Temple once bore some very valuable inscriptions that have now vanished with time. The Shankaracharya Temple has undergone many repairs throughout its life. The first repair work was done under the rule of Lalitaditya, the second was done by Zain-ul-Abideen after the temple got damaged in an earthquake. Then Maharaja Gulab Singh, a Dogra ruler renovated it with stone steps that forms a part of the passage to the shrine today.
Location: On Gopadari Hill, in south-east of Srinagar
Built by: Raja Gopadatya
Built in: 371 BC
Dedicated to: Lord Shiva
Attraction: Ancient architecture
Timing : The temple is open from 7:00 am till 8:00 pm.
How to reach: One can easily reach Shankaracharya Temple by taking local Buses or by hiring taxis from Srinagar