S.P. Srivatsa
It is a well-known fact that Kashmir has been renowned for her rich cultural heritage and splendid natural beauty since the dawn of civilization.
Nature has bestowed all her cherished treasures of charming beauty upon this Valley. It is but natural enough to note that Kashmir remained a source of inspiration to other parts of our Country in particular and the whole world in general through the centuries. Unfortunately, the cultural and political history of Kashmir has been full of many unbearable and unexpected unheavals. Situated as she is at the most vulnerable position geographically and the most delicate position politically she experienced the amalgamation of various cultures, social orders and religions. The early Vedic civilization set its roots in Kashmir, the great Buddhist philosophy flourished there from 300 B. C. to 800 A. D. and unique Shaiva philosophy originated in this beautiful valley.
It was this Shaiva philosophy which due to its significant synthetic approach, novelty, practical utility and distinct thoughts influenced all the schools of Indian philosophy including Tantra.
Besides the local Naga-cult, Vaisnism and Shakticult also grew there side by side without any hindrance. In the later period the Christianity and Muslim religion also invaded and got themselves established in Kashmir with the same fervor.
The peculiar environmental position of Kashmir provided a fertile soil for all such mixtureof religions, cultures and philosophies, In the field of education too, Kashmir did not lag behind. There was a time when Kashmir was a great seat of learning. The great Sharda-pitha was recognised as one of the most prominent seats of learning in our country, Thousands of students from all parts of the world used to throng this great centre of learning. Teaching in all branches of learning was imparted there.
In Kashmir’s most congenial and favourable environment, many scholars achieved miraculous intellectual heights and contributed their best share to different field of Sanskrit literature. Their invalu- able contribution enriched Sanskrit literature to a commendable extent. The Science of poetics was profounded there which later on spread over into other parts of our country. In other branches too, the contributions of Kashmiri scholars excelled both in quantity and quality. The scholars like Vasugupta, the founder of Kashmir Shaiva philosophy, Mamata, a great rhetorician, Kalhana, a well known historian, Abhinavagupta, a versatile genius, Ksemendra, a profile writer, Ratnakara, Ananda Vardhana, Bilhana etc. were the scholars and the poets of high merit who producedthe
literature of an immense value.
All their works dealing with the diverse subjects such as religion, philosophy, romance,satire, dramaturgy, history, lexicon, grammar, sociology etc. constituted of a rich legacy in Sanskrit literature. It is beyond doubt that there is hardly any branch of Sanskrit-literature which remains untouched by the Kashmiri scholars. Thus the Kashmiri scholars played a significant role, in the development of Sanskrit literature.
It is worthwhile to note that the poets of Kashmir showed their excellency in the field of poetry. The beauty and grandeur of the poetry composed there was recognised by both the scholars and readers. The poetical creation of Kashmiri scholars also covers a wide diversity of themes. It was a general belief that Kashmir being the abode of the goddess of learning was the most suitable place for composing a unique and beautiful poetry. Bilhana claims that because the poetry and saffron are like brothers they, therefore lived together only in Kashmir and not elsewhere.
It is also gratifying to note that the Kings of Kashmir gave a commendable patronage for the growth of poetry and other literature in Kashmir from time to time.
The great Kings like Lalitaditya, Avanti Yerman and Jayaditya etc. were lover of Sanskrit poetry in particular and other type of literature in general. The poetry always remained a pass-time for them. Again, we remember Bilhana who claims that even the women of Kashmir ‘were well-versed in the Sanskrit language and the majority of people could speak Sanskrit fluently. Sanskrit remained the official language of Kashmir even during the reign of the early Sultanas time e. g. up to the end of 14th century A. D.
There was a belief among the people that if even a man with mediocre talent wo.u1d go to Kashmir, he could be able to compose a poetry of the standard spontaneously. The same type of belief is now popular in European countries regarding the Alps. Is it that poetry and the snowy mountains go together?
The political history of Kashmir has attracted the local historians and chronologists like Kalhana and Jonaraja in 11th century A.D. They have recorded faithfully the account of the political developments in Kashmir. Had these scholars not done this great service to the nation, much historical data would have been lost for ever, as it happened in the case of other aspects of cultural heritage of Kashmir. A. Stein therefore, was rightly pained to remark in this respect-’The favours with which nature has lavishly endowed, “the land in the womb of Himalaya” are not likely to fade or vanish. But these manifold remains of antiquilty which the isolation of the country preserved, and which helps us to resuscitate the life and condition of earlier times, are bound to disappear more and more with the rapid advance of westesn influence. Great are the changes which the last few decennia have brought over Kashmir, greater, perhaps, than any which the country has experienced since the close of the Hindu period.’
It is easy to foresee that much of what is of value to the historical student will before long be destroyed or obliterated. It is time to collect as carefully as possible the materials still left for the study of old Kashmir and its earliest records. I have spared no efforts to serve this end, and in the result of my labours, I hope, there will be found some return for the boons which I owe to Kashmir.
This alarming statement of the learned European Orientalist warns us beyond doubt that whatever out of whole substantial contribution of Kashmir and her scholars has survived the onslaughts of time needs to be protected very carefully before it also perishes for ever. Such commendable remarks of Dr. A. Stein inspire us forcefully to unearth the still hidden treasure of antiquity of the cultural heritage of Kashmir.
Keeping in view this very fact it is the primary duty of the student of Sanskrit to pay his attention to bring to light more and more old record of Sanskrit learning lying in Kashmir in whatever form it may be. Lest, it may also be lost for ever, we have to be vigilant to save it.
It is worth mentioning here with appreciation that it was Dr. G. Buhlar who had first of all ventured to take initiative in this respect and made an intensive tour of Kashmir Valley for the collection of Sanskrit MSS from there during 1875-76. Having collected so many rare valuable MSS he had prepared a detailed catalogue which is known as an extra number of the journal of the Bombay branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1877. The Sankskrit scholarship is very grateful to Dr. Buhlar for this epoch-making work of the preservation of Sanskrit MSS.
After one hundred years of Dr. Buhlar’s above mentioned collection work Dr. K.S. Nagarajan came forward to do Ph.D onthe topic ‘The contribution of Kashmir to Sanskrit literature’ from the University of Poona. His Ph.D thesis (now published in a book form) is really a wonderful work from every point of view as it provides a detailed information as for as Kashmir’s contribution to the Sanskrit literature is concerned. With help of Dr. Buhlar’s catalogue and Nagrajan’s book we can assess easily how much Kashmir contributed to enrich the cultural heritage of Kashmir in particular and the entire country in general.
Now it is the need of the time to do a thorough search of all the MSS which are still inthe ignored condition and get them published before they vanish for ever as Dr. A. Stein had feared more than one hundred year ago. Kashmir’s cultural heritage is to be saved at all cost.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
