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 Hritage
Indo-American
Kashmir Forum
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