Kashmir: Ancient Gaurdian of Vedic India

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by Narender Sehgal

 

Brave Emperor Lalitaditya(720 AD)

 

(Kashmiri sword upto Central Asia)

 

The name of Lalitaditya, a godly symbol of courage and bravery, has a

top place in the history of Kashmir. He is recognised through his 37-

year rule, his successful armed campaigns, his strange expertise in

war, nnd his desire to become a world conqueror. Continuous fighting

without getting tired, remaining busy in battles and achieving

success in the battlefield through his unique fighting skill were his

qualities which were similar to those of Alexander. Lalitaditya

conquered Punjab, Kanoj, Badakshan and Beijing and returned to

Kashmir after 12 years. When he set out with his troops for Punjab,

the people in Punjab welcomed him with great affection. After

dislodging the Punjab ruler, Yashovarman, Punjab was merged with the

borders of Kashmir. Lalitaditya expanded his empire to Bengal, Orrisa

and Bihar through his armed campaigns. This Army exercise

successfully marched ahead to Gujarat, Malwa and Mewar. With these

successful armed campaigns, the name of Kashmir and its brave sons

became famous not only in India but in the entire world. Great

empires bowed their head in front of chivalrous Kashmiris.

 

Victory after Victory

After achieving victory upto the distant south Lalitaditya was

attracted to achieve new heights. According to historian, Mazumdar,

Lalitaditya concentrated his attention towards the areas in the north

after important victories in the south. His empire had been extended

upto the remote corner of the mountain range in Karakorums, a highway

linking China with India. In the beginning of the 8th century the

Arab invasion had started knocking at the door of Kabul valley.

During this period the Muslim power in Sindh was trying to match

towards the north. When the empires of Kabul and Gandhar were busy in

these invasions, Lalitaditya got a nice opportunity for establishing

his foothold in the north. He moves, with his victorious army, from

Dardistan to Turkey. The entire area was rich in Kashmiri traditions

and education because of the efforts of unlimited number of monks and

Kashmiri peaple in towns of central Asia. It is not diffcult to

understand that Lalitaditya achieved an easy victory in this region.

After the end of Teng reign, those states that had come under the

Chinese rule had disintegrated because of civil wars.

(R.C. Mazumdar, Ancient India, Page 383).

 

Kashmir, at that time, was the most powerful state. During the time

of Lalitaditya its boundaries had extended from Tibet in the east to

Iran and Turkey in the west and from Central Asia in the north to

Orrisa and the seashores of Dwarika in the south.

 

Lalitaditya evinced interest in other spheres besides his army life.

Art and trade received importance during his reign. Religious

festivals were being held. Lalitaditya provided special facilities

and encouragement to paintings and sculpture. He was a successful

writer and a Veena player. Bamzai has written that Lalitaditya's war

victories have received special place among different accounts of his

reign. Later on he was made a hero of Kashmiris. On the basis of his

building art, great work connected with human welfare, his love for

education, protection to scholars and his image of a kind conqueror

Ashoka is considered as the greatest ruler of Kashmir.

 

Martand Sun Temple: Example of India's Greatest Art

 

The most memorable and beautiful work of Lalitaditya is the

construction of spacious Martand temple which the emperor got built

in honour of the Sungod (Bhaskar). It may be mentioned here that

Lalitaditya was himself a Kshatriya of Surya dynasty. The style of

the construction of the temple and the skill of the makers are rare

in the history of the world.

 

According to Stein, it is not possible to find and excavate cities,

towns and the ruins belonging to the era of Lalitaditya. But from

whatever material and ruins, found and excavated so far, one learns

about the fame of their matter Lalitaditya. The remnants of the big

Martand temple, which the emperor had built at the pilgrimage of the

same name, is an example of unique building skill of ancient Hindus.

These ruins, even in total disarray, receive praises for their

design, beauty and art.

(Stein: Translation of Rajtarangani, Page 60)

 

According to Younghusband Martand has a very high place in the

world's great architecutral designs. It is an example of not only the

Kashmiri architectural skill but it has pride of having been set up

at a fine spot which is prettier than the spots where Parthinan, Taj

Mahal, St. Peters have been built. It can be considered either a

representative of all such great buildings and monuments or a

combination and sum total af all the qualities. It gives an insight

into the greatness of the people of Kashmir.

 

The ruins of the huge temple stand in a square field with snow capped

mountains of the smiling valley as the background. In terms of beauty

and strength and in grandeur it is next to Egypt and Greece. This

temple has been built with strong and square limestones. The temple

has received grandeur and beauty through the pillars of Greek

pattern. It is now in ruins and there are many such ruins scattered

in Kashmir. The very existence of this temple encourages man to carry

out study of the skill and art of Kashmiris. Anyone bereft of the

love of nature could not select such a special spot for the

construction of the temple. A restless and destructive mind would

have not been able to built such a spacious and praiseworthy temple.

(Younghusband: Kashmir, Page 201)

 

Martand temple is a mirror of the art and skill of Kashmiri Hindus.

This way Lalitaditya should not be considered a founder of a vast

empire but also a founder of art and skill of Kashmiri Hindus for six

centuries.

 

All Embracing Attitude

 

The society, during the reign of Lalitaditya, was happy and

prosperous. There was arrangement for an open trade with almost all

the countries in Asia. There were ample facilities for agriculture

and many new things were invented. Irrigation was given priority.

Lalitaditya got built victory memorials in his honour in foreign

lands. There is description of Sunishchitpur and Darpitpur towns in

Rajtarangani, even if the ruins of these cities have been plundered

by the Muslim invaders. He got built, Phalpur and Parnotsav towns,

the former is now Shadipur and the latter Poonch. Lalitaditya built a

big temple at Lalitput, which is now Letpora. The emperor built one

monastery and a big Buddhist temple at Hushakpur, which is now

Ushkar. In the history of Kashmir the Martand temple and Parihaspur

town are immortal. Parihaspur is close to Shadipur.

(Kashmir: Gopinath Shrivastav, Page 25)

 

Emperor Lalitaditya was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Daily worship of

Vishnu was an essential part of his life. He was an idealist Hindu.

Having faith in Hindu religion he had liberal outlook towards

Buddhism. A huge Buddhist monastery was built during his reign. The

emperor gifted 84,000 tolas of gold for its construction. This was

named as "Raj vihar". What else can be a befitting example of the

emperor's equal treatment for all sects and faiths to which he

provided equal opportunities.

 

The Golden Age of Hindu Self-respect

 

The greatness of Lalitaditya is hidden in his tolerance towards all

religions and in his benevolence towards people and conquered rulers.

Even while accepting Hindu religion he respected Buddhism and

established number of Buddhist monasteries and temples. His army

chief was a Buddhist and majority of his officers belonged to

different sects. He had respect and equal feeling for scholars of

every country. Because of being a supporters and protector of

education scholars from India and other countries would come to his

court. After the defeat of Yashovarman he brought Bhavbooti and

Pakshpatiraj poets from Kanoj to the capital of Kashmir where they

were given honour and suitable posts.

(History of Kashmir: Bamzai, Page 124)

 

Lalitaditya invited known and wise people from abroad to Kashmir. It

is learnt from the writings of Albrooni, a foreign historian, that

the emperor installed a Turkish Sardar, Kanikuniya, as a minister.

Later on the Sardar adopted Buddhism. The practice of holding an

annual festival was established in Kashmir from this time. This

festival was being held for many centuries in order to commemorate

Lalitadity's victory on Turkey. The golden age of Hindu self-respect

started in Kashmir with Lalitaditya. Emperor Lalitaditya had become a

symbol of greatness and tolerance of Hindu religion.

 

An account of Lalitaditya's successful war campaigns is given in a

letter written by a ruler of Sindh to the first, Muslim invader,

Mohd. Bin Qasim. He writes: "If I had sent the ruler of Kashmir, at

whose door many Indian kings have bowed their heads, who shakes the

whole of India, even Makraan and Turaan countries."

(Gopinath Shrivastav: Kashmir problem and background)

 

Lalitaditya had opened an embassy in China which was welcomed there.

He was a maker of a great empire.

 

The era of Lalitaditya had brought a message of peace, prosperity and

riches. He was tolerant towards all the religion of his time.

Everyone enjoyed protection in his reign. Temples of Shiva, Vishnu

and other deities were constructed. Kashmir became a centre for

foreign scholars and learned people.

 

An Able Administrator

 

Emperor Lalitaditya was a unique warrior, victorious, lover of art

and literature but he was equally a successful administrator. He did

not allow any revolt, civil strife, and communal hatred to grow in

his empire. There is no political leader or emperor in the history of

the world who can be compared to Lalitaditya.

 

An awount about "Domar" and "Domars' revolt" has found repeated

mention in the political history of Kashmir. Domar people have

opposed Government orders and directions while being enoouraged by

wealth and power, illegal occupation of Government and private land

and creating an atmosphere of anarchy used to be some of their

activities. In the initial stage the domar word was used for the

tribe of forest dwellers and later powerful sardar would be called

Domar. Gradually this word was used for describing that person or a

group of persons who would take part in any struggle or rebellion

against the administration. Lalitaditya did not allow any rebellion

to grow in his rule. Even during his war campaigns outside Kashmir he

would keep an eye on such revolts. He gave the following instructions

to his ministers during one such campaign.

 

"It should be kept in view that in the godowns there let be

foodgrains for them for not more than one year. For the purpose of

ploughilig there should be as many bullocks as are necessary, because

if they have more wealth, they would become arrogant Domars and by

becoming powerful will not accept the orders of the king."

(Kalhana's Rajtarangani)

 

After Lalitaditya the rebellion of Domars restarted and there was

some sort of anarchy in the administration in Kashmir for some

period.

 

King Jayapeed

 

Jayapeed was the first king to rule Kashmir for 31 years. He too was

considered an expert in war campaigns like Lalitaditya. After

assuming control over the entire region upto Prayag, he reached upto

Bengal where he married the daughter of king Jayant. Jayant too

assisted Jayapeed in his war campaigns. When he returned from his

successful war campaigns alongwith his soldiers to Kashmir, the king

of Kanoj, Vajrudh, challenged him in the way. Jayapeed defeated him.

On his arrival in Kashmir he waged a successful battle against his

brother-in-law, Jajaz, who had, while taking advantage of Jayapeed's

absence, taken control of the administration in Kashmir.

 

Jayapeed invaded Nepal also. But he was defeated and arrested.

Jayapeed, who was imprisoned in a terrible and fortified fortress,

managed to escape with the help of his supporter, Dev Varman. It was

because of his unique sacrifice that Jayapeed succeeded in reaching

Kashmir.

 

As a result of Dev Varman's successful plan he succeeded in jumping

over the wall of the fortress. But soon after climbing over the wall

he had to cross the stream flowing adjacent to the wall. Dev Varman

committed suicide and Jayapeed crossed the stream with the help of

his dead body.

 

King Jaypriya

 

In this category is another well-known and powerful king called

Jaypriya. He was, besides a successful battle commander, a scholar.

Besides providing manifold facilities for education he made a

valuable contribution to spiritual field. There were many poets and

philosophers during his period. Vasugupt, a scholar of Shaivism,

remained active during this period. A Chinese traveller, Ayukong,

came to Kashmir during this time and stayed for fouryears to carry

out study of Sanskrit and Buddhism. Ouring this time Kayast community

came into being on the strength of its wealth and wisdom. Its

conflict and confrontation was with the Brahmin community. Jaypriya

sided with Kayast against the Brahmins. Jaypriya had to embrace death

by being a victim of the conspiracies hatched by the Brahmins.