| Avantiswami Temple | |
| Map Type: | India Jammu and Kashmir#India |
| Map Relief: | yes |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District: | Pulwama |
| Location: | Awantipora |
| Religious Affiliation: | Hinduism |
| Governing Body: | Indian Archaeological Survey |
| Established: | 9th century CE |
| Founded By: | Avantivarman |
The Avantiswami Temple is an ancient ruined Hindu temple located on the banks of the Jhelum River, 28 km away from Srinagar in Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Its ruins once consisted of two temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu,[1] and were built under king Avantivarman of the Utpala dynasty in the 9th century CE. The site is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.[2] [3] Locals call the temple Pandav Lari, meaning "house of the Pandavas".[4]
The temple was built by King Avantivarman in the year 853–855 CE. Originally known as Viswasara, the ancient town was also a capital city. Avantivarman was also the founder of Avantipur and of the Utpala dynasty in the 9th century CE. He had built many Hindu temples in Kashmir during his reign, which were largely destroyed due to Muslim conquests.[5] During the reign of Avantivarman, the region prospered. The Avantiswami Temple is an example of the stone temple architecture of Kashmir during that era.
Prior to the Muslim conquests, Kashmir was a center of Shaivism and Hindu philosophy, and a seat of Sanskrit learning and literature. By the 14th century, Kashmir had come under Muslim rule, and most of its early temples were deserted or sacked by the early 15th century. Two temples here are attributed to him: the Avantiswami Temple dedicated to Vishnu and the Avantishwara Temple dedicated to Shiva. The Avantiswami is smaller, but similar in planning to the earlier Martand Sun Temple.[6] [7]