Naranag is the modern name of ancient Sodaratiratha. The site of Naranag owes its sanctity to the existence of a large spring near which temples have been built in the eastern and western directions. Locally it is also known as the lower and upper group of temples. The principal temple in the eastern group or in the upper group is dedicated to Shiva and has been identified with the temple of Bhuteshwar mentioned in the fourth book of Rajatarangini. The principal temple in the western group or in the lower group is also dedicated to Shiva and has been identified with Jyeshtheswar mentioned in the fourth book of Rajatarangini. Around these two main temples, several smaller temples were also built. Temples at Naranag were also constructed during the reign of Lalitaditya.
The main temple in the first group is built on a flat terrace overlooking Kanakavahini or Krishnaganga, a perennial river originating from the Gangabal lake and the glaciers. The temple proper faces east and is built on a raised plinth. A flight of steps leads to the platform which, probably, also served the purpose of circumambulation. The platform measures 10.50 x 10.50 m. An entrance, 1.5 m wide, provides access to the sanctum of the temple. The sanctum proper measures 4.5 m by 4.5 m.The walls are completely plain and the ceiling is made of kanjoor stones, a kind of lime brick. Externally, on three sides recessed trefoil small niches have been made which are the only decorative element. The dome-shaped roof was covered with stones and was of a pyramidal type.
The other eight subsidiary temples built on the same general plan to the north of the main temple face different directions. All the temples are surrounded by an enclosure wall which measures 41 x 45 m. For obtaining access to the complex a gateway in the north wall is built with pediments resting on independent columns on the front and on the rear.
The second or the lower group of temples built by the side of the ancient spring like the upper group is also enclosed by a massive rectangular stone wall having a two-chambered gateway on the south-western side of the complex. The enclosure wall measures 42 x 50 m and is internally 1 ½ high. The principal temple in the group is built to the extreme north of the enclosure wall. It is built on a raised plinth which is approximately 1 m high. Externally, the temple measures 12.00 x 12.00 m and faces southeast. The main entrance to the temple is in the east and internally it measures 5.00 x 5.00 m.
The principal temple of the second group has been identified with the Bhutesh temple of Rajatarangini mentioned in the fourth book by Kalhana. On all three sides, trefoiled niches have been provided. The walls of the sanctum are completely plain. They support the ceiling which is made of kanjoor stones arranged in a domical fashion and probably this is the earliest evidence where a domical ceiling has been introduced in the temples. The exterior of the dome is covered with stones in a pyramidal shape, which had fallen down sometime back.
The other miniature temples built around the main principal temple are of different dimensions and appear to have been built in different phases.
The spring to the north of the temple complex is a rectangular structure. It appears that in ancient times there was a spring that in the early historical period was properly channelled and a tank was scooped out for storing the spring water. The sanctity of the tank or Pushkarni was so overwhelming that in the later period, it was used for performing rituals and became a tirtha, which, in later historical writing, came to be known as ‘Sodartirtha’.
By the side of the principal temple, a monolithic stone trough cut from a single block of rock is also noteworthy. Perhaps, it served the purpose of rituals and was fed through a stone conduit connected with the spring, traces of which were noticed during the excavation of miniature temple no.3. The stone trough measured 5 x 1 ½ m and 1.30 m deep.
1 R.C Agrawal, Kashmir and its Monumental Glory (New Delhi: Aryan Books International, 1998), 126-130.