MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2019 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Established 1965 Fading of Kashmir Shaivism Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Justice G D Sharma (Retd) tence and authoritativeness". Various Contempo- his self realized line of various gurus. Late Prime dismissed but all of them after the dawn of pop- rary scholars have characterized him as a brilliant Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi was an ardent ular rule of Kashmir centric political party ashmir Shaivism is a School of the Tantric scholar and saint, the pinnacle of the development devotee of Swami Lakshman Joo and her visit to National. Conference headed by Dr. Farooq Fishiness in avoiding third Shiva Tradition that originated in Kash- of Kashmir Shaivism and "in possession of Yog- Kashmir Valley used to remain incomplete with- Abdullah were absorbed in Government schools. Kmir between approximately 700-1100 ic realization." Abhinavgupt himself has recorded out paying obeisance to Swami Ji. He had shed his One can understand their bent of mind and this is Common Era (CE). During that time, Kashmir was about the migration of his ancestors from Kannouj mortal coil in this mundane world in the month of also one of the reasons to keep the militancy alive party monitoring the epicentre of intellectual and Spiritual life. in his famous book "Tantraloka" to the following September, 1991 in his Ashram in Srinagar which in Kashmir valley. This fact is recorded in details Kashmir Shaivism devotees believe in all pow- effect:- still exists unattended in a dilapidated condition in my authored book titled, "Plight of Jammu & henab Bridge, under construction in Akhnoor erful deity Shiva, that is universal shared con- sector and having the distinction of being the Kashmir- The Unknown Files". Now, this is the sciousness. This consciousness is believed to be fu%'ks"k'kkL=lnua fdy e/;ns'kLrfLeUutk;r xq.kkH;f/kdk n~fotUek A right time to establish Sharda Peeth University in Clongest bridge in Northern India, looked after within each individual and, similar to a yoga prac- dks I;f=xqIr bfr ukefu:Dxks=% 'kkL=kfC/kpoZ.kdyksn~;nxLR;xks=% AA38AA Kashmir Valley with the dominant object of reviv- by the Jammu and Kashmir Roads and Buildings tice. It centres on revealing the inner self as con- ing Kashmir-Shaivism which embraces common Department, has come under focus for a reason nected with a higher consciousness. The above reFk yfyrkfnR;ks jktk futa iqjeku;r~ iz.k;jHklkr~ d'ehjk[;a fgeky;ew/kZxe~ culture of Kashmiri brotherhood and nullifies the said thought process was also influenced by sev- jehadi theory that Kashmir is a separate Nation. extraneous to the technicalities or the engineering eral Indian Philosophical and Spiritual traditions ArfLeUdqosjiqjpkfjflUrka'kqekSfylkEeq[;n'kZufo:<ifo=HkkosA and professional reasons. It is intriguing that a bizarre In Kashmir Valley where the 'Wahabi culture' has including ideas from Patanjali's yoga sutra and oSr:rkls/kfl fuokleeq.; p+Øs jktk n~fotL; ifjdfYirHkwfjlEir! AA52AA been introduced and nourished to perpetuate fam- and unusual way is crafted with intent to keep away Yogacara. ily rules can be curbed effectively by this Kash- or at least arrange prolonging for an unspecified "Nilamata Purana" is an ancient text (6" to 8" Abhinavgupt was born in Kashmir in a fami- in the vicinity of famous "Nishat Garden" of Sri- miri Sufi tradition of tolerance and co-existence. period, third party monitoring of work on this impor- Century CE) from Kashmir which contains infor- ly of scholars and mystics and studied all the nagar city. Kashmir Shaivism is gaining interest The Wahabi philosophy till date has not been able mation on its history, geography, religion and folk- schools of philosophy and art of his time under the not only in India but abroad also. In Universities to erase the original Kashmiri culture because in tant and vital bridge, a requirement which was know- lore. It was used by Kalhan as one of the sources ingly attached to the process of the construction guidance of as many as fifteen (or more) teachers. where teaching of Sanskrit has been introduced as the mosques in Srinagar or elsewhere in the val- of his historical treatise "Rajatarangini" written in He completed over 35 works and the largest and one of the compulsory or optional subject the study ley where the Namaz is recited that is in total dif- works for better results. Like this, scope for raising Sanskrit poetry in 12" Century which gives some most famous of which is "Tantraloka"- an ency- of Kashmir Shaivism also becomes relevant at the ference to the practice observed as followed in the of eye brows and that too genuinely and not unnec- glimpses of the contemporary times as well as of clopedic treatise on all the philosophical and prac- choice of concerned students. The study of San- world. The Namaz is sung in versus which seem essarily, is created and most importantly, was tan- the past. Gonanda is the first known king of Kash- tical aspects of Kashmir Shaivism. An Italian San- skrit is gaining popularity throughout the world to be very much akin to the recitation of Sanskrit mir and was a relation and friend of Jarasandha skrit Scholar by the name of Reniero Gnoli has and it is taught in more than 40 universities of the Shlokas as sung in Hindu temples. tamount to gross violation of the set guidelines of the (King of Magdha). He had gone to help Jarasand- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways completed a translation of "Tantraloka" in a Euro- world. Sanskrit is indubitably the oldest and most The people of J&K State are thankful to the haha in a war against lord Krishna and was killed pean language. scientific language in the world. This subject elderly learned Sanskrit scholars of Jammu region (MORTH). by the latter. His son who wanted to take revenge Acharya Abhinavgupt in spiritual parlance should be introduced in every university especial- who had the foresight and vision to keep alive the Launched in September 2018, the project of this too was killed. His widow was made the ruler by describes his origin "Yognibhue". In "Kashmir ly in India and more particularly in state of J&K name of Archarya Abhinavgupt by getting con- vital Chenab bridge, at an estimated cost of Rs. 120 Lord Krishna himself who was succeeded by her Shaivism"; it is considered that a progeny of par- where it was taught with interest and concern even structed a convention hall in the heart of Jammu son known as Gonanda II. After him, Kashmir was ents established in the divine essence of "Bhaira- during Dogra Rule. Not only that, the teaching of city on his name whileas, the scholars and politi- crore and scheduled to be completed by March 2021 ruled by at least 43 kings. was decided to be under third party monitoring, look- va" is endowed with exceptional spiritual and Sanskrit was more vigorously followed thereafter cians of Kashmir valley who after 1947 remained Ashoka the Great was the third ruler of the intellectual prowess. Such a child was supposed even for sometime during Islamic Rule which was more close to the seat of power in the Kashmir ing to the strategic importance of this bridge. Why Indian Mauryan Empire. He ruled between 273- to be "repository of knowledge". He is known for established in 1339 by Shah Mir (known as Bul- centric class of ruling leaders holding the reigns should this monitoring appear to be thought as some 232 BE and extended his control over Kashmir. his voracious thirst for knowledge and for this rea- bul Shah) who originally was a Persian by nation- of power have done nothing. Not only that, some type of an unwanted ombudsman- ship when the He encouraged Budhism in the valley but was not son he chose to study under 15 teachers of course ality and Hindu King had given him the shelter. of them had yielded considerable influence in the intolerant of Kashmir Shaivism (Hinduism). He is his first teacher was his father. He established his family rule of Islamic nomen- Central Government also and they could moot the approach should be to welcome several layers of the founder of present Capital city of Srinagar. He monitoring from outside agencies competent in the In his works, he had tried to resolve differences clature by practicing treachery against that ruler idea about real Kashmir culture and Kashmiriat. repaired old Shiva Temples and constructed two of different scriptures by integration in a superior who had given him shelter to live in Kashmir but My practical experience of dealing with thousand respective field in order to have a cross check on new ones. His son Jalauka after him became perspective. He remained unmarried all his life. kept the Sanskrit language as official language till numbers of militants and banned militant organ- technical, financial, regulatory, quality and timeline Monarch of Kashmir and he came under the influ- He lived his life as a writer and a teacher. one of his descendents namely, Sikandar Shah Mir izations inclusive of their prominent leaders have grounds which would make the project a successful- ence of Hinduism. Three centuries later Kashmir There is legend that at the time of his death, he (known as Sikandar Butshikan) ascended the confirmed my belief in the old wise saying that passed under the control of Kaushans. The most took with him 1200 (twelve hundred) disciples and throne and ruled from 1389 to 1413. He imple- when a nation has to be destroyed first of all its ly completed venture. Monitoring of projects other- powerful monarch of this dynasty was Kanishka wise being a multi- faceted task should therefore be marched off to a cave an actual place known even mented an orthodox Islamic religious policy and culture should be whipped out which thing has whose rule extended to North -Western India and upto to this day, (known as Bhairav Cave) recit- with the support of a perverted Kashmiri Pandit been done in Kashmir.