Dont Distort Kashmiri History

[Guest guest]

"What I fail to understand is who among the Saivites has said that Kashmir Savism or Saivism has sown the seeds of Islam or Saivism is a proto form of Liberal Islam or Sufism. Atleast I don’t know of any. If there are any they should be asked to explain the same except for Congressmen (including Nehru) who have license to lie."

(Ahmed Shah Batwari)

 

Distortions and Realities

We must not meddle with complex philosophies of history, as that will lead us nowhere, Ravi Kant Sharma responds

 

My basic premise for writing this column is that I agree with Shahnaz Bashir that the concept of Kashmiriyat as pronounced by so called intellectuals is incorrect. I agree with him on two counts. One, that the Kashmiriat is an amalgamation of Saivism (read as Kashmir Saivism) and Sufism is incorrect. Two, it is used by some intellectuals to present romanticized versions of history or as Shahnaz has put it “history is being fudged to suit someone’s interests”. Notwithstanding my agreement with Shahnaz on the statements made above I would like to present a perspective to the distortions and realities of philosophical, cultural and somewhat entangled political history of Kashmir.

Kashmir Saivism is a monistic, non dual philosophy, the essence of which is merging of individual (limited consciousness) to the universal consciousness (unlimited and eternal consciousness). Its essential focus is on recognition (Pratibhjna) and freedom (Swantarya) is the outcome of the recognition, since it frees us from bondage of ignorance. According to Vedanta philosophy, refined soul is God. All divine power according to the Vedanta philosophy resides in this physical body. All the grandeur and magnificence of divine potentialities of the Almighty are present in its entirety in dormant centers of human soul. He can be seen only in one’s own inner-self. Our entire life is God’s direct manifestation. The ascetic asks, “For whom should we worship (kasmai devaya bavisha vidhema). The emphatic answer is, we should worship for the God within us (Atma-Dev). The central doctrine of Sufism, sometimes called Wahdat or Unity, is the understanding of Tawhid: all phenomena are

manifestations of a single reality, or Wujud (being), or Al-Haq (Truth, God). It is often understood to imply that every phenomenon is an aspect of Truth and at the same time attribution of existence to it is false. The chief aim of all Sufis then is to let go of all notions of duality, therefore the individual self also), and realize the divine unity. It is therefore abundantly clear that all three philosophies have some similarities and differences though it is believed that Sufism post Mansur-bin-Hallaj had Vedantic influence. What I fail to understand is who among the Saivites has said that Kashmir Savism or Saivism has sown the seeds of Islam or Saivism is a proto form of Liberal Islam or Sufism. Atleast I don’t know of any. If there are any they should be asked to explain the same except for Congressmen (including Nehru) who have license to lie.

It should also be borne in mind that the scholars of Vedant philosophy were mostly Brahmins (the Brahmins of central India still have surnames like Trivedi, Dwivedi or Chaturvedi) but had contradictory philosophies to that of scholars of Saivism. This is no way meant they were at war with each other. The Tandav Nach (Nritya, it should be, for nach means a simple dance which does not essentially have a purpose while as Nritya is a dance which is associated with a certain socio-cultural event and has a purpose and its own unique style) which purportedly the learned scholar has quoted out of context is a celestial dance the purpose of which is killing of ignorance. When Shiva dances the Apasmar Pursh (personification of the ignorant one) is under his feet. The celestial dance signifies the death of ignorance, that’s what, explains Shiva Sutra (2) of Vasugupta-Jnanam Badanah (Limited Knowledge/Ignorance is bondage). I will confidently accept that Kashmir Saivism wasn’t

understood by many in Kashmir although people worshipped Shiva as their primary diety. Very few of us are philosophers and people at general have faith and religion is a matter of faith and not essentially philosophy. Nonetheless the following verses written many hundred years after monistic Saivism was propounded will prove beyond doubt the influence of Saivism on Kashmiri thought and sensitivity. I am selectively quoting Muslim poets only to prove the point.

Shams Faqir: - “Zaanwale kar zaen yaar harmukh vichu deedar, parde zal az darde naar harmukh vichu deedar”.

Shah Gafoor: - Yyoth yith zanamas kaenh chune larun, darinay darun soham soo; Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar gharun, darinay darun soham soo.

Azad Zargar: - Harmukh bozmay chon keel Kalo, Ha valo baal chas praraeney Ahmed Shah Batwari:- “Vishnas ti Krishnas Raesh Maidanas, Mahaganesh tate kas kare namaskar; Gange-raaz byuthum Gange-bal thanas, jan chum mileth jahaanas seet”,

Ayub Betab: - “Dyanas manz mas Shankar chunho parvati mozaan, kamdevas van baan chalevaeth yokun karehaes dhyaan”.

 

Leave alone Kashmiri poets: - Ali Mardan Khan the Afghan general wrote “Huma aasli maheshawar boodh ki shab shahe ki man deedam. Ajab sansayase deedam namo narayane guftam”.

We have countless verses to support this Swoch Kral, Mahmud Gami, Wahab Khar, Samad Mir, Nyam Saeb, Rahim Saeb, Ahmed Dar and many others have been influenced by saivism and the clear reflection is shown in their pieces of work.

Does one have to say more? So much so for philosophy. Kashyap Bandhu is deeply revered by Pandit community for his yeoman’s contribution to curtail certain wasteful rituals and dresses. His contribution to the Pandit community as an educationist and social reformer is also hailed. So is Jialal Kilam’s contribution. Mr. Bazaz seems to be the flavour around which Shahnaz has cooked his pudding. Mr. Bazaz holds the same reputation among Pandits as does Mr. Salman Rushdie among Muslims. I think it would be improper for me to quote anything from the Satanic Verses for it will hurt the sensibilities of my Muslim brothers. As regards availability of Shavite material and knowledge, Mr. Bazaz was deeply misinformed. For almost all major universities from Germany to Spain to United States teach Kashmir Saivism as a subject New York State University even celebrates all major festivals and birthdays of Shaivate scholars right from Acharya Abhinavgupt to Swami Laksman Joo. It has been

written that Avantivarman was a Brahmin and he massacred Buddhists. Kalhan who has been dispassionate and objective while writing Rajtarangni (read IV 715 to 19 and V 1-144) has made no such mention of Avantivarman killing Buddhists. It is obligatory on the scholar to mention the source of his research unless he himself travels back in time to see everything.

Regarding aborigines of Kashmir, Nilamatapurana and Buddhist texts are the main source of information. According to Nilmatapurana and various Buddhist texts it is Vishnu who after killing Jalodbhava (the water demon) crowned Nila Naag as the king of Kashmir. It is Nila, who invited the Brahmin Chandradev to Kashmir. As for Pischasas, Buhler says’ they were a tribe living in what can be called present day Kafirstan. They ate raw human flesh and would drink blood. They constancy attacked various habitations and Kashmir was one of them “that we still called a blood sucking insect as pisch in Kashmir proves that this tribe drank human blood”. If someone wants to be quoted as their descendant it is for him or her to decide. It is preposterous, almost laughable to say that Aryans were Brahmins when we clearly know of the Varna (caste) system from various texts of the Aryans. The very basis of Aryan theory is contested now. Excavations have shown worship of ring stones (mother

goddess cult) lingas (erect phallus) and the seal of pashupat (the protector of livestock) are traits common to vedic people and people of Indus valley civilization. Indologists like Max Muller have propounded the Aryan myth to divide people of the sub-continent. If Aryans would have killed or forced Dravidians to flee I wonder if they would have worshipped same god-Shiva.

It is my earnest request that we must look at history objectively and not quote what suits us. Half baked understanding of complex philosophies and intentional distortion of history will lead us nowhere. Kashmir stands at the cross-roads. Let us not add to the misery of Kashmir desa. The earth has never been anyone’s’. It has always changed hands. Who would have one day imagined the world without the great Roman Civilizations or Greeks or the Phahroaos!!!

Gov Mansur fana, vyodun huvey hyondmusalmano;

Ann Paranas chune manah, chune gudrun chaye rozaano

(Ahmed Shah Batwari)

 

 

 

Everyone is raving about the all-new Mail.

[Guest guest]

virendra qazi <virendraqazi (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 01:53:07 +0100 (BST)

virendra qazi <virendraqazi (AT) (DOT) co.in>

Re: [hc] Dont Distort Kashmiri History

hinducivilization

CC: Vrndavan Parker <vrnparker >

 

History tells only 11 families of Pandits survived in Kashmir. As per target a heavy load of sacred treads of slain Pandits was burned - proof of elimination of them.

This was work of Sultan Sikander of late 14th century.

Virendra

 

Vrndavan Parker <vrnparker > wrote:

"What I fail to understand is who among the Saivites has said that Kashmir Savism or Saivism has sown the seeds of Islam or Saivism is a proto form of Liberal Islam or Sufism. Atleast I don’t know of any. If there are any they should be asked to explain the same except for Congressmen (including Nehru) who have license to lie."

(Ahmed Shah Batwari)

 

Distortions and Realities

We must not meddle with complex philosophies of history, as that will lead us nowhere, Ravi Kant Sharma responds

 

My basic premise for writing this column is that I agree with Shahnaz Bashir that the concept of Kashmiriyat as pronounced by so called intellectuals is incorrect. I agree with him on two counts. One, that the Kashmiriat is an amalgamation of Saivism (read as Kashmir Saivism) and Sufism is incorrect. Two, it is used by some intellectuals to present romanticized versions of history or as Shahnaz has put it “history is being fudged to suit someone’s interests”. Notwithstanding my agreement with Shahnaz on the statements made above I would like to present a perspective to the distortions and realities of philosophical, cultural and somewhat entangled political history of Kashmir.

Kashmir Saivism is a monistic, non dual philosophy, the essence of which is merging of individual (limited consciousness) to the universal consciousness (unlimited and eternal consciousness). Its essential focus is on recognition (Pratibhjna) and freedom (Swantarya) is the outcome of the recognition, since it frees us from bondage of ignorance. According to Vedanta philosophy, refined soul is God. All divine power according to the Vedanta philosophy resides in this physical body. All the grandeur and magnificence of divine potentialities of the Almighty are present in its entirety in dormant centers of human soul. He can be seen only in one’s own inner-self. Our entire life is God’s direct manifestation. The ascetic asks, “For whom should we worship (kasmai devaya bavisha vidhema). The emphatic answer is, we should worship for the God within us (Atma-Dev). The central doctrine of Sufism, sometimes called Wahdat or Unity, is the understanding of Tawhid: all phenomena are

manifestations of a single reality, or Wujud (being), or Al-Haq (Truth, God). It is often understood to imply that every phenomenon is an aspect of Truth and at the same time attribution of existence to it is false. The chief aim of all Sufis then is to let go of all notions of duality, therefore the individual self also), and realize the divine unity. It is therefore abundantly clear that all three philosophies have some similarities and differences though it is believed that Sufism post Mansur-bin-Hallaj had Vedantic influence. What I fail to understand is who among the Saivites has said that Kashmir Savism or Saivism has sown the seeds of Islam or Saivism is a proto form of Liberal Islam or Sufism. Atleast I don’t know of any. If there are any they should be asked to explain the same except for Congressmen (including Nehru) who have license to lie.

It should also be borne in mind that the scholars of Vedant philosophy were mostly Brahmins (the Brahmins of central India still have surnames like Trivedi, Dwivedi or Chaturvedi) but had contradictory philosophies to that of scholars of Saivism. This is no way meant they were at war with each other. The Tandav Nach (Nritya, it should be, for nach means a simple dance which does not essentially have a purpose while as Nritya is a dance which is associated with a certain socio-cultural event and has a purpose and its own unique style) which purportedly the learned scholar has quoted out of context is a celestial dance the purpose of which is killing of ignorance. When Shiva dances the Apasmar Pursh (personification of the ignorant one) is under his feet. The celestial dance signifies the death of ignorance, that’s what, explains Shiva Sutra (2) of Vasugupta-Jnanam Badanah (Limited Knowledge/Ignorance is bondage). I will confidently accept that Kashmir Saivism wasn’t

understood by many in Kashmir although people worshipped Shiva as their primary diety. Very few of us are philosophers and people at general have faith and religion is a matter of faith and not essentially philosophy. Nonetheless the following verses written many hundred years after monistic Saivism was propounded will prove beyond doubt the influence of Saivism on Kashmiri thought and sensitivity. I am selectively quoting Muslim poets only to prove the point.

Shams Faqir: - “Zaanwale kar zaen yaar harmukh vichu deedar, parde zal az darde naar harmukh vichu deedar”.

Shah Gafoor: - Yyoth yith zanamas kaenh chune larun, darinay darun soham soo; Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar gharun, darinay darun soham soo.

Azad Zargar: - Harmukh bozmay chon keel Kalo, Ha valo baal chas praraeney Ahmed Shah Batwari:- “Vishnas ti Krishnas Raesh Maidanas, Mahaganesh tate kas kare namaskar; Gange-raaz byuthum Gange-bal thanas, jan chum mileth jahaanas seet”,

Ayub Betab: - “Dyanas manz mas Shankar chunho parvati mozaan, kamdevas van baan chalevaeth yokun karehaes dhyaan”.

 

Leave alone Kashmiri poets: - Ali Mardan Khan the Afghan general wrote “Huma aasli maheshawar boodh ki shab shahe ki man deedam. Ajab sansayase deedam namo narayane guftam”.

We have countless verses to support this Swoch Kral, Mahmud Gami, Wahab Khar, Samad Mir, Nyam Saeb, Rahim Saeb, Ahmed Dar and many others have been influenced by saivism and the clear reflection is shown in their pieces of work.

Does one have to say more? So much so for philosophy. Kashyap Bandhu is deeply revered by Pandit community for his yeoman’s contribution to curtail certain wasteful rituals and dresses. His contribution to the Pandit community as an educationist and social reformer is also hailed. So is Jialal Kilam’s contribution. Mr. Bazaz seems to be the flavour around which Shahnaz has cooked his pudding. Mr. Bazaz holds the same reputation among Pandits as does Mr. Salman Rushdie among Muslims. I think it would be improper for me to quote anything from the Satanic Verses for it will hurt the sensibilities of my Muslim brothers. As regards availability of Shavite material and knowledge, Mr. Bazaz was deeply misinformed. For almost all major universities from Germany to Spain to United States teach Kashmir Saivism as a subject New York State University even celebrates all major festivals and birthdays of Shaivate scholars right from Acharya Abhinavgupt to Swami Laksman Joo. It has been

written that Avantivarman was a Brahmin and he massacred Buddhists. Kalhan who has been dispassionate and objective while writing Rajtarangni (read IV 715 to 19 and V 1-144) has made no such mention of Avantivarman killing Buddhists. It is obligatory on the scholar to mention the source of his research unless he himself travels back in time to see everything.

Regarding aborigines of Kashmir, Nilamatapurana and Buddhist texts are the main source of information. According to Nilmatapurana and various Buddhist texts it is Vishnu who after killing Jalodbhava (the water demon) crowned Nila Naag as the king of Kashmir. It is Nila, who invited the Brahmin Chandradev to Kashmir. As for Pischasas, Buhler says’ they were a tribe living in what can be called present day Kafirstan. They ate raw human flesh and would drink blood. They constancy attacked various habitations and Kashmir was one of them “that we still called a blood sucking insect as pisch in Kashmir proves that this tribe drank human blood”. If someone wants to be quoted as their descendant it is for him or her to decide. It is preposterous, almost laughable to say that Aryans were Brahmins when we clearly know of the Varna (caste) system from various texts of the Aryans. The very basis of Aryan theory is contested now. Excavations have shown worship of ring stones (mother

goddess cult) lingas (erect phallus) and the seal of pashupat (the protector of livestock) are traits common to vedic people and people of Indus valley civilization. Indologists like Max Muller have propounded the Aryan myth to divide people of the sub-continent. If Aryans would have killed or forced Dravidians to flee I wonder if they would have worshipped same god-Shiva.

It is my earnest request that we must look at history objectively and not quote what suits us. Half baked understanding of complex philosophies and intentional distortion of history will lead us nowhere. Kashmir stands at the cross-roads. Let us not add to the misery of Kashmir desa. The earth has never been anyone’s’. It has always changed hands. Who would have one day imagined the world without the great Roman Civilizations or Greeks or the Phahroaos!!!

Gov Mansur fana, vyodun huvey hyondmusalmano;

Ann Paranas chune manah, chune gudrun chaye rozaano

(Ahmed Shah Batwari)

 

 

 

 

Everyone is raving about the all-new Mail.

[Suman Singh]

No one can remove the Aryan past of India including the history of the great Aryans Kashmiris Brahmins.