Payar Shiva temple- Jammu and Kashmir

Address

Payar Shiva temple- Payar village, Pulwama District, Jammu and Kashmir 192122

Diety

Shiva

Introduction

Payar temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva), dated 11th century CE, is located 12 km west of Avantipur in the village of Payar. The village is in Pulwama district lies some 45 km (28 miles) from Srinagar. The temple is made up of ten stones that are preserved with great architectural and sculptural glory. Although the shrine is open on all along the four sides and consists of a double pyramidal roof with triangular pediments on all the four sides enclosing a trefoil arch. The eastern trefoil niche is engraved with an image of Lakulisa which is seated Cross-legged on a wicker seat. The Shiva temple of Payar located at the castle of Karewa tableland is a jewel in stone. At western trefoil niche is dancing Shiva in high relief. Six armed Shiva carries trident and khatvanga and dances to the tune of male drummer and female flute player. The trefoil niche on the northern side contains an image of three-headed Shiva.