Kashmir Cultured Past, Tortured Present
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
Hindu Traditions
• Vedic traditions
• Sun Temple, Martand
• Kashmiri Shaivism
• Center of Aesthetic theories
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.
Second Great Center of Indian Buddhism
Kashmir
At its peak, 400 Buddhist monasteries in 680 CE
Center of philosophical vibrancy, ritual performance, artistic creation
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
And some convert to Buddhism…called “Yavana”s for the next 1000 years
Merchants who crossed India’s trade routes
KASHMIR: Center of Buddhist arts that influenced other areas of South Asia,
including Nepal and Tibet
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 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
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...