Martand Temple in Kashmir

Q. Why is this in news?

A .

In May this year, some pilgrims offered prayers inside the Martand Temple, an Archaeological Survey of India-protected (ASI) monument

Q. What About Martand Sun Temple?

A. 

• The Martand Sun Temple is a Hindu temple located near the city of Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley.
• It dates back to the eighth century AD and was dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity.
• The temple was destroyed by Sikandar Shah Miri in a bid to undertake mass conversion and execution of Hindus in the valley.
• According to Kalhana, the Temple was commissioned by Lalitaditya Muktapida in the eighth century AD.
• The temple is built on top of a plateau from where one can view whole of the Kashmir Valley.
• From the ruins the visible architecture seems to be blended with the Gandharan, Gupta and Chinese forms of architecture.

Q. Why in news now?

A. 

• According to ASI, prayers are allowed at its protected sites only if they were “functioning places of worship” at the time it took charge of them.
• No religious rituals can be conducted at non-living monuments where there has been no continuity of worship when it became an ASI-protected site.

Q. What are the living/non-living monument?

A. 

• If some activity, like any kind of worship, has been going on for years in the structure, then it is taken over as a living monument.
• But where no activity has taken place, say an abandoned building, then it is declared a dead monument.
• The latter is difficult to restore because it is generally covered by a lot of overgrowth.
• The best-known example of a living ASI monument is the Taj Mahal in Agra, where namaz is held every Friday.