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Sun Temple Martand, Kashmir |
Word Kashmir literally in Sanskrit means land of Kashyap. According to Nilmat Puran Kashmir was once a big lake, called” Satisar”. Rishi Kshyapa drained this lake by creating a gap in hills at Baramulla. This land was inhabited by Nagas, Pishacas and Yakshas. First naga king was Nila. Bindusara in east and, Srimadaka in south, Elapatra in west and Uttarmanasa in north were Naga chiefs. By an arrangement Pishcas’s were asked to leave valley for six months. During their absence from valley descendants of Manu [manuvas] were allowed to live along Nagas. Later this arrangement was changed so that Manuvas could live in valley permanently. Nagas had lot of rites and ceremonies and practiced a religious belief, which became foundation for Shaivism. Kashmir became slowly Centre for Sanskrit scholars. Nagas did not accept Aryan caste system and a concept of multiple gods. Naga religious practices continued for long along with some Vedic practices. Lately there has been attempt by some Kashmiri Muslim fanatics to discredit this Kashmir history. They are postulating that King Solomon [970BC-931BC] with help of Jinn’s drained Satisar Lake when he visited valley. Nowhere in bible or in other Israel literature is it documented that King Solomon visited India and subsequently Kashmir. For all what is known, king Solomon never left his foot outside Israel. Rajtarangni, a historical chronicle by Kalhana, accepted world over while detailing ancient Kashmir history from 3238BC at no place writes about Soloman visit to valley. Secondly, Solomon ruled 970BC931BC. By this time Satisar was already drained long back and Kashmir had its own kingdoms. King Gonanda 1 ruled Kashmir from 3238BC---3188BC, followed by his son Gonanda 11[3139BC3130BC]. Gonanda1 ruled at the time of Mahabharata war. Many kings followed Gonandas. In Mahabharata we are told that Kamboja’s ruled Kashmir followed by Panchala kings. Pir Panchal mountain range goes after their name. Word pir was added to Panchal in Muslim rule, this fact is written in historical chronicles. Such are distortions done to Kashmir history by fanatic Kashmiri writers. It was king Gopiditya [417BC---335BC]”who built Shankaracharya temple and not anyone else. Some Muslim fanatics are addressing Shankaracharya temple as Takht-i-sulaiman [throne of Solomon] . Total distortion of history. In fact stone stair case of this temple was erased by queen of King Jahangir and its stones were used to build Pathar masjid. That is how Kashmir history is being distorted by fanatics and this process of changing names and distorting facts is continuing even today. Buddhism reached valley in king Surendra’s time [400BC]. King Surendra ruled Kashmir from Gandhara [Afghanistan]. Kashmir was part of Gandhara kingdom in his time. King constructed first bodh vihar in valley at a place called Soura. But it was in king Ashoka’s time [269BC-227BC] that Buddhism got big boost in valley. He sent Madhyantika to valley to preach Buddhism. Madhyantika subdued Nagas by his supernatural powers in arguments. His case was made easier as Nagas did not accept Aryan caste system and its multiple god concept. During Ashoka’s time Buddhism and Hinduism flourished side by side. He not only constructed vihars but also built two Siva temples at Bijbera.Madhyantika also brought saffron in valley. King Jaluka who succeeded Ashoka was not Buddhist fan. During his time some bodh vihars were destroyed. It is during Kushan time that Buddhism got revived in valley. King Kanishka [127AD-147AD] organized Buddhist conference at present day Harwan, Kashmir. This conference was headed by hindu pundit Vasumitra. Chinese traveler Huan Tsang mentions about this conference in his travelogue. Nagarjun and Patanjali helped in spread of Buddhism. Both were against Vedic beliefs and rituals. Slowly there was intermingling of Buddhist beliefs and Hindu beliefs. Hindus started believing that Buddha was one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. In Kalhana’s time there was not much distinction between Buddhism and Shaivism. Karkota rulers’ [625AD-1001AD] revived Hinduism. Many temples were built and Vishnu Pooja was encouraged. Lalitaditya mukhtapida was important ruler of this dynasty. His rule extended from Kashmir to Tibet and to Magdha in south. He constructed Martand temple. He ruled from724AD-760AD.During Karkota rule demise of Buddhism started in valley. Kashmir was a sort Buddhist state from 1st century to 8th century. After 8th century there was rise of Shaivism in Kashmir. Rise of Shaivism in valley was due to great scholars like Abhinavgupta, Vasugupta and many others.Karkota rule was followed by Utpala dynasty rule. This dynasty was Vishnu and Siva followers. Lot of temples were built by them. Avantivarman was important king of this dynasty. He built Siva temples at Awantipur.At the time when Kalhan was completing Rajtarangni [1149AD-1150AD] Kashmir was ruled by a weak Hindu king Jaisima. From 1155AD till 1339AD Kashmir was marred by misrule, intrigues, debauchery and incessant feuds and valley fell prey to foreign rule. Shah Mir who was working as minister in Sehdeva kingdom managed to oust king, marry his wife forcibly and install himself as first Muslim king of Kashmir. Kashmir was ruled by Muslims from 1339AD----1819AD. Muslim rulers were ruthless to Kashmiri pandits in the valley. They forced conversions and put harsh laws in place for Pandits. Those who opposed conversion were brutally killed. Two Muslim kings specially need to be mentioned here. One is Skinder [1389AD-1413AD], It is said of him that he erased all temples and Idols which came his way and was aptly called Skinder butshiken [iconoclast]. Other king was Aurangzeb [Moghul king]. His atrocities on Kashmiri pandits and Sikhs sends shivers in spine of those who read history of that time. It is interesting to note that at the time Akbar rule there were 45 places of Siva worship, 64 places of Vishnu worship, 3 for Brahma, 22 Durga and 700 places of Naga worship in valley. This is attested by Muslim historians of that time. Sufi’s acting as crusaders of peace and love is not corroborated by history. In fact they acted in tandem along Muslim rulers in forcing conversions. Sufi Shamasuddin Araki 1480AD] personally supervised destruction of various temples. Some Sufi’s even issued edicts“KP TO Dress deplorably. Cannot ride horse, cannot put on jewelry , has to bow to Muslim, cannot use turban, to name a few”. We as a society should be ashamed to blindly believe that Sufi’s were proponents of humanity and tolerance. If that were true then why didn’t they stop Muslim rulers from committing atrocities on Kashmiri pundits? Role of Sufism needs to be fully investigated and not blindly followed. It is during Muslim rule a Hindu majority state was converted in to Hindu minority state. Kashmiri pandits who founded a state, nurtured it, made it a place of learning and developed its own distinct philosophy were forced to abandon their faith and ideals and face ethnic cleansing in valley. What a human tragedy? When this all was happening to them, whole world including rest of India remained mute spectators to their [KP’S] tragedy. This ethnic cleansing which had modest beginning in 1947, had upsurge in 1990 and is now near completion. Irony is that this completion has happened in independent India which is vouching for secularism and it is ruled by Hindus. A shame on India, its people and its nationalist leaders! Kashmir Shaivism Kashmir developed its religious philosophy, now called Kashmir Shaivism. In Kashmir Shaivism, Vedic religion [Vaishnavism] and Buddhism continued side by side for long till Buddhism met its demise in 8th centuryAD.We will briefly discuss what Kashmir Shaivism means and how it differs from Vedic philosophy. It is actually a group of several monistic and Tantric religious traditions. These traditions have survived in an attenuated form among Kashmiri pandits. It is nondualist unlike Shaiva Siddhanta of south which is dualistic. There are many authors, each developing his own version of pure Consciousness. Shaivite philosophy does not prescribe tortures of body but recommends a few precise methods of spontaneous meditation, free from any kind of repression and constraints of mind or emotions. It was in 9th century Vasugupta wrote Shiv Sutras which laid foundation for Kashmir Shaivism. Somananda wrote, “Vision of Siva”. But it was Abhinavgupta who discussed Shaiva philosophy in detail. Abhinavgupta was born in 950AD. Out of his 40 works Tantraloka [divine light of tantra] on Kashmir Shaivism is outstanding. He destroyed concept of dualistic interpretation of Shaivism. According to Kashmir Shaivism this phenomenal world [Shakti] is real and has its being in Consciousness [Chit]. This is in contrast to Vedic assertion that this world is Maya [existencenonexistence]. Vedanta explains manifestation through 25 elements but Shaivites explain it through 36 elements [Tattvas]. Shiva is Consciousness [Chit] .When this awareness expands out, universe comes into existence. Unlike Vedantists who say Brahman is knowledge and no activity, Shaivites say Siva is knowledge and an activity. Kashmir Shaivism has three main divisions:---Agama Shastra, Spanda Shastra and Pratybhijina Shastra. All three together are called Trika SHASTRA. Kashmir Shaivism is derived from 92 tantras, called Agamas. Goal is moksha I.e. attainment of unwavering bliss while living ordinary life. It talks of four paths to mokshathrough body, mind, consciousness and method less method. Its doctrine revolves around, Trika---“Siva, Shakti and Anu [individual]”. There is a strong monistic interpretation of bhairav tantra in it. Kaula tantra is subdivision of Kapalikas.Kaula tantra is nonpuranic and its tenants are purity, sacrifice and freedom. Guru has a vital role in this philosophy. Kaula believe in practical methods of attaining enlightenment. Thus sexuality, Love and social life are considered vectors of spiritual evolution. Kaula system which is tantric Shaivism flaunts impurity rules [alcohol, meat, blood etc.] to invoke deities which is unlike Vedic rituals. Even though Kashmir Shaivism is monistic there is still a role for dualistic aspect on the spiritual path. This whole world is nothing but blissful energy of the all-pervading Consciousness of Lord Siva. Shakti is dynamic energy of Siva and is indistinguishable aspect of Siva. Apparent duality is an illusion created by our ignorance and limitations.64 systems of Shaiva cult are described, Trika is one of them. One can attain Siva Consciousness by Sambavopa---total surrender, Shaktopaya---liberation through kundalini awakening or by Anupaya---without means [remaining in one’s own being].In nutshell Shaivism advocates how a human being engrossed in inferior objective world of Siva can be transferred upwards towards supreme energy of Siva through his cognac energy Shakti. It was in Kashmir Shaivism that the concept of dynamic energy [Shakti] playing an important role in the evolution of Cosmos was introduced. Siva is transcendental, immanent and can be realized through practices [kriya]. Awantivarman in 14th century and Lalleshwari [1320-1392] by Lal Vak expounded this philosophy in vernacular for masses. It biggest proponent in modern times was Swami Laxman joo [19071991]. |
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*Dr. Makhan Lal Babu, Born and brought up in Kashmir, lived in Kashmir till his migration from valley in 1990. Retired as Professor and Head Neurosurgery from Institute of Medical sciences, Soura, Srinagar. Has published a lot of professional articles, both in national and international journals. His interests, besides medicine, are in Ancient history of Kashmir, Vedas and Ancient India. His focus is educating youth who are fast losing track of their glorious roots and culture. |
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VERY WELL WRITTEN, ENJOYED READING IT. APPRECIATE THE RESEARCH WHICH MUST HAVE GONE IN WRITTING THESE HISTORICAL FACTS. HOPE , DR.BABU STILL REMEMBERS ME!!
Added By DR. SURRINDER TICKU