Kashmir

Cultured Past, Tortured Present

Geography

Shrinagar

=

Shri + Nagar

Kashmir Valley from the East

Sri Nagar

Saffron

Saffron crocus is a perennial bulb. The flowers are pale lilac with narrow ribbed, slightly variegated leaves. The stigmas, the part used, are a bright orange-red

Silk/HORSE Route

Buddhism into Western Chinavia Central Asia by 124 CE

Kashmiris wealth in trade, culture instrumental to Silk Route trade

Spices, Saffron created fortunes

Material Wealth and Cultural wealth on a

major trade route

Vibrant Center of Ancient Indic Cultures

Kashmir

Hindu Traditions

• Vedic traditions

• Sun Temple, Martand

• Kashmiri Shaivism

• Center of Aesthetic theories

Many Hindu Temple Ruins

Avantipura Shiva Temple

Payara Shiva Temple

Kashmiri ShaivismKashmir Shaivism proposes the theory of reflection (pratibimbavada). This theory explains that the universe is created in the same way that the image of an object, such as a house, can be reflected in a mirror. In the case of Shiva, however, there is no object such as the house which exists independently from the mirror of God Consciousness.

The Kashmir Shaivism theory proclaims that nothing can exist outside of God Consciousness, because only God Consciousness exists.

Therefore, the Shaiva explains, the only thing that exists is the house appearing in the mirror. There is no external object, no separate house, being reflected in the mirror. There is only the mirror of God Consciousness.

What then causes the "reflection" to appear in the "mirror" of Shiva's awareness? To this question the Shaiva answers, it is svatantrya, the absolutely independent will of Lord Shiva that creates this whole universe in the mirror of his awareness by his absolutely independent will (svatantrya), his freedom.

RASA Aesthetic Cultivation

as Salvation Practice

The Sanskrit term for a deep feeling of basic aesthetic ideal is rasa. From the classical era onwards, and as definitively expounded by its chief articulator, the eleventh century Kashmiri scholar Abhinavagupta, Indian aesthetics has focused on the articulation of and evocation of the different rasas.

The various medieval Sanskrit treatises highlight 10 rasa-s: erotic love (sringāra); heroism (vīra), disgust (bībhatsa), anger/fury (raudra), mirth (hāsya), terror (bhayānaka), compassion (karuna), wonder (adbhuta), peace (shanti), and paternal fondness (vātsalya).

The Sanskrit artist working in the classical tradition wrote for an audience of highly refined and cultured individuals.

In Indic aesthetic philosophy, great attention is paid to explaining the refined attitude of the “rasikas,” those who enjoy immersing themselves fully in a particular artistic experience.

Center of Indian Medicine and Cultural Production

Second Great Center of Indian Buddhism

Kashmir

At its peak, 400 Buddhist monasteries in 680 CE

Center of philosophical vibrancy, ritual performance, artistic creation

Ashokaruled 273-236 BCE

East meets WEST, 300 BCE

Alexander the Great

Alexander defeated by Indian princesWeakened states in NW draw Mauryas of NE India to conquer and form alliances, creating the largest

land empire in Indian history

Ashoka’s Edicts on Pillars and Rocksacross Empire

After Alexander was defeatedSome Greeks remained

in NW India….

Greek Gymnasium in Afghanistan… ….papyrus manuscript in Greek style

And some convert to Buddhism…called “Yavana”s for the next 1000 years

Merchants who crossed India’s trade routes

Gandhara

Takht-I-Bahi

KASHMIR: Center of Buddhist arts that influenced other areas of South Asia,

including Nepal and Tibet

Favorite Retreat of Mughal Rulers

Favorite Retreat of Mughal Rulers

Kashmiri Islam:

Tolerant and drawn to Sufi mysticism

Nishat Gardens

Shahi Hamdan, Sufi Shrine

Kashmir Under British Colonial Rule

British Develop Himalayas Hill stations for monsoon and heat seasons

Western Himalayas:

Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Ooty, Jammu, Kashmir.

Eastern Himalayas

Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalimpong,

Kurseong, Mirik, Shillong, Imphal

British Military Recruitment:Employment of “Hill Men” of India and Nepalese “Gurkhas”

British cede Kashmir including Ladakh to the Hindu Dogras in 1846

Hindu rule in Kashmir continued until Independence in 1947Ladakh part of India until today

1840-1: Kashmir vs. Tibet War

Dogra invasion of Tibet repulsed;

Tibetans defeated in Ladakh, territory remains with raja of Kashmir

Maharaja of Kashmir, 1900

Era of Indian IndependencePOST 1947

Kashmir, Nehru, the British

Muslim ruler of Kashmir agrees to sign on with India, and Nehru makes exception to the rule of partition:

“in cases of majority population land goes to Pakistan in border regions”......

... Pakistan objects, Indian sends in new army to Kashmir, and war breaks out in 1947-8, ending in the “LINE OF CONTROL” still extant today...

1965 War

Conflict’s Context:

US [Pakistan] vs. USSR [India] Global Cold War

1999 Kargil Skirmish

Context:

Both nations nuclear powers

Kashmir TodayInsurgency and Terrorism, State and Proxies

Hindu Kashmiri Panditas terrorized, flight into refugee camps in Jammu

Still:Kashmiris not allowed to decide their own fate

Kashmir now located in the “War against

terror”

Stalemate Continues....