Lord Krishna and Kashmir

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Bhattathiri <mulavana@a...> wrote:

 

Articles on Culture and Religion in Kashmir

 

Sri Krishna and Kashmir

by J.N. Ganhar

Koshur Samachar

SRI Krishna, together with Sri Rama, is one of the two most

popular of our gods. Like Rama, Sri Krishna is an incarnation of God

in human form. But while there are so many places known after Sri

Rama, there hardly is a place in Jammu or Kashmir which has Krishna

as part of its name. Nor for the matter of that are there any place

of worship associated with the two gods; though in the Dogra times a

number of temples to Sri Rama, or rather Rughnath temples, have been

erected in Srinagar, Jammu and some other places. A few Radha

Krishna temples were erected in Jammu city, Poonch and some other

places. But no Radha Krishna temple exists anywhere in Kashmir. And

this in spite of the fact that Sri Krishna has been very intimately

associated with Kashmir at the very beginning of the valley's

history.

Shri Abhinav Gupta, the greatest of the Shiva philosopher's of

Kashmir, has written a brief and masterly commentary on the

celestial song of Sri Krishna's - Bhagvadgita which is recited by

Hindus of Kashmir on many occasions in their lives. In the 9th

century, Avantivarman, the most illustrious and enlightened king of

Kashmir, attained Nirvana after the recitation of Bhagvadgita got

completed just before his death. After Abhinava Gupta, another

celebrated Sanskrit writer, Kshemendra, has mentioned Sri Krishna as

one of the incarnations of God in his Dasavtar Charita.

 

Birth Anniversary

 

Sri Krishna's birth anniversary - Janam Ashtami - is celebrated

with great pomp and religious fervour at scores of places throughout

the valley, besides Jammu.

 

Artistically decorated tableaus depicting Sri Krishna's life are

paraded at many places throughout the valley on the occasion of

Janam Ashtami. In Kashmir, these yatras are known as Veda-Bhagwan.

Besides some devout Hindus of Srinagar go to Guptganga at Ishber

near the famous Mughal garden - Nishat Bagh to have a dip in the

holy waters of the spring there. Some more ardent devotees ascend to

the top of the steep mountain Sareshwari above Guptganga as part of

the celebrations of Janam Ashtami.

 

During the Dogra rule, the birthday of Sri Krishna on Janam

Ashtami day was announced by a gunfire from Hari Parbat Fort for the

convenience of the devotees on fast. Besides, Ras Lillas and dramas

were staged at many places in Kashmir.

 

The names of Sri Krishna and his consorts are very popular among

Hindus of Kashmir. Even at present, we come across hundreds of Hindu

males and females having these names.

 

Sri Krishna is an esteemed theme in the later day Kashmiri poets

like Parmanand, Krishna Razdan, famous Radhaswami saint of Wanpoh

Swami Gobind Jee and Harihar Koul. author of Harihar Kalyan, besides

others.

 

Hoary Past

 

The celebration of Sri Krishna's birthday in Kashmir dates back to

the hoary past. Nilamata Purana describes the Janam Ashtami festival

in verses 716 to 722. This ancient (sixth century A.D.) text informs

us that the festival was to be celebrated on the eighth of the dark

half of Bhadrapada. The images of Sri Krishna, his spouse and his

mothers, Devaki and Yashoda, were to be worshipped. The next morning

these were to be carried to the bank of a river or a lake for

immersion. The ladies were to do so while singing and dancing. The

occasion was to be observed as a fast and only barley food, along

with preparations of sugarcane, pepper and ghee was to be eaten.

 

It has been stated above that Sri Krishna has been associated with

Kashmir intimately at the beginnings of its rccordcd history.

Readers will naturally like to know how this was so. There is a

reference in Mahabharata of Panchal Naresh who was the father of

Panchali (Draupadi). Some historians believe that the Panchal Naresh

was the first king of the Pir Panchal belt which stretches from

Kishtwar to Muzaffarabad in the Jammu and Kashmir State. Apart from

the thought currents and religio- philosophical disquisitions

originating on the banks of the sacred Ganga and the Yamuna, which

found their echo in the far away valley, their ruling families were

often connected by matrimonial alliances. This was the case at the

beginning of the Mahabharata war. Accordingly, the Kashmir prince,

Gonanda, went to help of his relative, Jarasamdha, with a large

force, and laid siege to Krishna's city, Mathura. A grim battle

ensued but ultimately when Sri Krishna's brother, Balbhadra, joined

the fray, the brave Kashmir warrior, was killed.

 

Gonanda was followed by his son, Damodara. He was also a brave

ruler who could not forget the fate his esteemed father had met at

the hands of the Yadus. He, therefore, lay in wait for an

opportunity to avenge the death of his father. This was not long in

coming. Soon he learnt that the Yadus, including their chief, Sri

Krishna, were invited to Swayamvara on the banks of the Sindhu

(Indus) by the Gandharas. When the illustrious Damodara heard that

the Yadus had come, he led an expedition against them but the proud

prince met no better fate than his valient father; he too was

killed.

 

Sri Krishna did, however, not incorporate Kashmir into his own

domain. Kashmir then had a high reputation for sanctity; it was

regarded as the manifestation of goddess Parvati. Sri Krishna,

therefore, had Damodara's pregnant widow, Yashovati, installed on

the throne. Yashovati is one of the first women to have occupied a

throne in the history of the world. Naturally, therefore, many eye-

brows were raised when Sri Krishna issued this unprecedented decree;

but he calmed the grumbling advisers and asked them to look upon

Yashovati as a mother and a goddess. And this is what the people

did.

 

[The late Shri J.N. Ganhar was a member of the Central Information

Service and a well-known author and columnist.]

 

Kashmiri Overseas Association Koshur Samachar

 

 

 

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