Kashmir: Garden
of the Sages and Kashmiri Hindus
Origin of Kashmir
According to Pandit
Kalhan's Rajatarangini, the present Valley of Kashmir used to be an enormous
lake called Satisar. The great sage Kashyapa prayed for a long time to
Maheshwara to provide him dry land out of this lake. His supplication was
accepted, and Lord Vishnu taking the form of a unicorn (varah) pierced the
mountain at north-west at a place called Varehmula now Baramulla. The great
volumes of water flowed down and the land emerged from underneath the sheet of
water, now named Kashmir after the sage. Even in the earlier records like
Nilamata Purana, the same story is told. The Hindus of India regarded the Valley
to be the abode of Shiva and Shakti. It remained a place of great reverence, and
Brahmins engaged in Vedic scholarship and lore came from all over and settled in
the Valley. Thus the whole Valley was inhabited by Brahmins, giving it the name;
'Garden of the Sages' (Reshih-waer). It came to be regarded as the sacred land
of Hindus -- what Jerusalem is to Christians and Jews." Varanasi and
Kashmir are the High Schools of Hindu Science", wrote Medieval historian,
Al-Beruni, 1017-1030.
Adi Sankaracharya
In tracing the cultural history of ancient India, no
genuine scholar and researcher can overlook the importance of Kashmir. A vital
clue in this connection is the developrnent of Sanskrit language and literature
in Kashmir through its learned and puritanical Brahmins. It was this special
feature which had attracted Adi Sankaracharya to do penance on top the
Sankaracharya mountain in Srinagar, where his temple exists even to this day,
though in recent times, Muslims have laid a claim to its foundation.
Shaivism
In the field of philosophy, Abhinav Gupta, the celebrity
in his field remains the greatest propounder of Shaivism, the philosophy
nurtured and perpetuated by a large number of Kashmiri Brahmin saints and
scholars. Seldom has a deep philosophy of divine powers influenced a society as
did Shaivism influence the Kashmiri mind. For Kashmiri Hindus, Shivratri, the
night of union of Shiva and Shakti has immortal significance, for Shiva embodies
in Himself, the power as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. On this trefoil
hinges the entire concept of universe. In the system of Hindu philosophy,
contributions of Kashmir Shaivites have a unique place.
Buddhism
In true spirit of tolerance and enquiry, Kashmiri Hindus
became receptive to the message of Buddha when it was relayed. They accepted it,
and accepted Buddha as incarnation of Vishnu. Buddhism found flourishing in
Kashmir whose kings and lords diverted their attention towards the promulgation
of Buddha's teachings. Ancient Kashmiris raised 'mathas' for the monks now
called 'mar' ( as Zenmar = Jeevan + Matha or Ahlmar = Ahalya + Matha or Anzimar
= Anjana + Matha) and 'viharas',the Buddhist temples, now reduced to 'yar' as
suffix like Ganpatyar =Ganpati + Vihara, or Kralayar = Krareshwara + Vihara or
Somyar = Soma + Vihara etc. They built hospices for Buddhist recluses like
Bodgair = Buddha +Graha or Buddha's house.
The credit of carrying the message of Buddha to
contiguous lands to the north-west and north, goes to Kashmiri scholars.
Kamalshree, the famous Kashmiri Buddhist missionary in Ladakh, Tibet and Central
Asian regions of Kashgharia etc. has found adequate notice in the chronicles of
those lands. The Bodhis of Ladakh and farther used to visit the Jama Masjid site
in Nowhatta, Srinagar until recent years and circumvent the mosque, which
according to their accounts was a great seat of Buddhist learning in ancient
times, and the famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Hiun Tsiang had stayed in it. In
the famous fire-temple of Balkh in Afghanistan ( Vedic name Bhakri) later on
converted to Buddhist temple and given the name of Nava Vihara (Navbahar) in
Persian histories, the Kashmiri Brahmins called Pramukh kept the candles
burning.
Temple Architecture
Perhaps the most important and laudable contribution of
ancient Kashmiri Hindus to Indian civilization is in the field of temple
architecture and iconography. The ruins of stone temples at Martand (the Sun
Temple) at Avantipora, at Pattan, Tapar and Boniyar in Baramulla eloquently
speak of skill and craftsmanship of master architects and sculptors. The life
size statues of Buddha in various 'mudras' (poses) preserved in the State Museum
in Srinagar, the Boddhisattvas and terra-cotta artifacts of Buddhist character
have added dimension to Indian civilization. If these temples had not been
subjected to wanton destruction in the name of Islamic religion, and if the
icons had been spared the wrath of fundamentalism and fanaticism, then of
course, Kashmir would have been foremost as a great centre of iconographic and
temple architectural excellence.
To this should also be added the bronze work of idols
that is recovered from private collections from time to time. In the British
museum in London. there is a separate section of Kashmir art-finds in which
materials from Ushkor in Baramulla and Pandrethan (Purana-adhishthana) near
Srinagar have been preserved. The wonderful architecture at Wangat in Lar valley
is unique in itself. On the foundation of these temples, and with their huge
stones, the Muslims conquerers later have built their mosques.
Medical Sciences
In the field of surgery and veterniary science, ancient
Kashmiris had made contributions and Al-Beruni writes in Indica (Matil-Hind)
that Kashmiri surgeons and physicians were compelled to accompany Greek troops
of Alexander when they were returning from their Indian campaign. In the of
Gundishapur in Iran, there was a department of Indian medicine and surgery in
which the texts of Susrud, Wagbhatta and Charak were taught. These also carried
the prescriptions of Kashmiri physicians and surgeons including veterniary
doctors. Their important contribution lay in their use of local herbs for
medicinal use. Persian histories tell us that Zainul Abidin, Bud Shah, was
afflicted wilh some serious disease in his youth, and it was saint-physician
Shri Bhatt who cured him.
Engineering
History tells us that it was Suyya, the marvellous
hydraulic engineer who conceived the idea of drudging river Vitasta at a
particular place to clear obstruction to its rapid flow and save the land from
floods. The place has come to be known after him, viz. Suyyapur or Sopore of
present day. King Lalitaditya ordered the digging of several canals to bring
water to paddy fields; the Tsaont Kol is among his works. The Hindu rulers built
hundreds of hamlets, bridges and temples, many existing after their names like
Letpur by Lalitaditya? Renwor (Raina Wari) by Ranaditya, Tapar by Tapaditya,
Harwan by Shadrawahan, Kanispora by Kanishka, Ushkara by Hovishka and so forth
and so on.
General Scholarship
Modern Indian historians have paid glorious tributes to
the celebrated Kashmiri historian Kalhan Pandit for writing the first detailed
history in Sanskrit. His is a pioneering work-Rajatarangini. Of course, many
historians preceeded him, like Chhavlakar and Khemendra. Nilamata Purana and
mahatmayas are of tremendous value as historical geographies produced by
Kashmiri Hindus. Under the Mughal and Afghan occupation of Kashmir, the Hindus
learnt Persian language with earnestness that soon they began producing
excellent prose and poetry in it. They translated many Sanskrit works into
Persian, and as skilled calligraphists, prepared illustrated texts of some major
Persian works like those of Ferdowsi, Nizami and other romantic poets.
Modern India
Coming to more recent times, it needs to be mentioned that
Kashmiri Pandit families who migrated to parts of India as a result of political
oppression in Kashmir, took keen interest in the political affairs of the
country, The houses of Nehrus, Saprus, Kathjus, Kouls, and Kaulas and dozens of
others are of considerable significance in Indian history. There have been
eminent public men, lawyers, judges, soldiers, scientists and artists among
them. Some surgeons and physicians have made their name. Bansi Koul, thc famous
contemporary artist carved out a place for himself among the celebrities of this
land.
The Present Plight
In short, it has to be said that this community has had a
glorious past when they were allowed to live in peace and strive in the Valley.
They contributed in almost all walks of life, arts, language, literature,
religion , philosophy, natural sciences etc. etc. Today, history has brought
them to the brink of destruction as victims of Islamic fanaticism and terrorism.
India has to uphold the banner of secular rule in Kashmir so that Democracy and
Secularism in the rest of the country may prosper.
Published by:
World Vision 2000
Understanding our Heritage
Indo-American Kashmir Forum
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