#hinduism #amazing #shiviling

The Salt Ranges have archaeological remains still hidden underground. A number of bones of the limbs and vertebrae of animals have been found at some nearby sites. Prehistoric axes and knives made of granite, and artifacts like terracotta bangles and pottery have also been unearthed at the Katasraj site. The latter have been found to be similar to those excavated in Harappa, but have not been dated.[8]

Hindu tradition holds that the temples date from the era of the Mahabharata, and is believed to be where the Pandava brothers spent a large portion of their exile.[4] It is also believed by Hindus to be the site where the Pandavas engaged in a riddle contest with the Yakshas, as described in the Yaksha Prashna.[4][6]

# katasrajtemple #hinduism #shiviling

Founding
The 4th century CE Chinese monk, Faxian, described a temple at Katas Raj in his travelogues.[6] The 7th century CE Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited the area and reported the existence of a Buddhist stupa dating to the era of the 3rd century BCE Indian emperor, Ashoka the great.[4][5] The stupa was reported to be 200 feet tall, and surrounded by 10 springs.[4] Simhapura (also Singhapura or Sinhapura) Buddhist kingdom, mentioned and visited by Xuanzang, has been identified with Katas Raj by Alexander Cunningham in his book The Ancient Geography of India.[9]

Following the collapse of the empire of Gandhara, Hinduism gained traction in the region under the reign of the Hindu Shahis beginning around the 7th century CE.[4] The Hindu Shahis established Hindu temples at Katas Raj from the mid 7th to 10th centuries,[4][6] though the British engineer Alexander Cunningham dated the shrines to around 66 BCE.[6] The Hindu Shahi empire also funded construction of several other temples throughout northern Punjab and the Potohar plateau,[4] including the nearby Tilla Jogian, and Kafir Kot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

#chakwal #amazing #katasrajmandir

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