Islamic accounts of Kashmir, was Harsha

[Guest guest]

Note that in Kalhana's time, Buddhism was flourishing in Kashmir,

> and it was not distinct from "Hinduism". He referes to Buddhists

> idols just like Brahmnaical ones. Kalhana was very familiar with

> Buddhism, and mentions Buddhist concepts accurately.

 

 

For whatever its worth, I would like to add from Minorsky's Gardizi on India

that:

 

In Gardizi's Zayn al-akhbar, (d. ca 1049), who refers to the words of Abdallah

Jayhani, "the Indians are divided into 99 divisions which can be reduced to 42

varieties, and their basic foundations are fourfold."

 

The 'Buddhists', constitute two of these four.

 

The second class is called shamanI: They reject the prophets.

 

The fourth class is called budI; 'they say that reward and punishment consist

in transmigration, either in happiness or in misfortune, and that Paradise and

Hell are in proportion to one's achievements or sins; they are not eternal and

when one has obtained a reward (pAdAsh) proportionate to one's dees one

come out of them."

 

These two basic groups are clearly distinguished from the other two classes

that 'affirm the existence of a Creator' and 'those that believe in God.'

 

See also Marvazi's account of Kashmir. he too distinguishes the Buddhists.

 

Additionally, I think its fascinating to note that the great Abhinavagupta may

also have been known to the Islamic geographers, for Hasan in his account of

Kashmir records the presence of a cave in Srinagar with a very long passage

in which a person, viz., anbud, went into with some followers chanting the

vedas but never came out. this cave is called Birwah, which to me sounds

similar to Bhairava...(*secondary* ref missing can find if needed...)

 

 

Tim