Sharada Temple Kashmir

Sharada Temple was once located in Kashmir which was dedicated to goddess Sharada (Saraswati). This temple was also called Kashyappur which was on the banks of Neelum Kishenganga River (known as Kishenganga in India). Its ruins can now be found in the Neelum District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan near the Line of Control (LOC).

“Kashmir was once called Sharada Desh because of this temple.”

It is said that this temple flourished in a small village called Shardi near Kishanganga River in the Neelam valley just beyond the line of control in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. During the partition the village fell into Pakistan. This shrine was once regarded as the one of the most important temples of the Hindus equivalent to the Shiva Lingam of Somnath, Surya of Multan and Vishnu of Thaneshwar.

Sharada Temple Kashmir Historical Facts

It is said that the temple had four gates in the four Cardinal directions. Eminent scholars and philosophers had entered the temple from three directions and had established their scholarly merit but no one attempted to enter the temple through the Southern gate. It was Shankaracharya who opened the Southrn door representing the presence of scholars even in southern India. Shankaracharya defeated all the scholars in a philosophical debate and entered the temple through the Southern gate to the Throne of Wisdom (Sarvajna Peetha).

It is also said that Sri Sharada, the presiding deity, herself put a test for him. Shankara passed this test too. History also has it that the devotees of Durga and Shiva approached the temple from all over the country to have their Heavenly glimpse. Through centuries the temple had remained the object of devotion and worship for lakhs of pilgrims from all over the country. Though only in ruins now, the entire temple complex holds the grandeur and awe of Indian architecture.