Ever since the dawn of civilization Kasmir has been well-known for its cultural heretage and splendid natural beauty. Nature has bestowed all her cherished treasures of charm upon this valley. It is but natural enough to note that Kasmir remained a source of inspiration to other parts of our country in particular and the whole world in general through centuries. Unfortunately the cultural and political history of Kasmir has been full of many unbearable and unexpected upheavals. Situated as it is a most vulnerable position geographically and a most delicate position politically, it has experienced the amalgamation of various cultures, social orders and religions. The early vedic civilization set its roots in Kasmir, the great Buddhist philosophy flourished there from 300 BC to 800 AD and a unique saivaphilosophy originated in that beautiful valley.
It was this Saiva philosophy which due to its significant synthetic approach, novelty, practical utility and its distinct thought influenced all the schools of Indian Philosophy including Tantra.
Besides the local Naga cult, Vaisnavism, and Sakti cult also grew there side by side without any hindrance. In the later period the Christianity and Muslim religion also invaded and got established in Kasmir with the same fervour.
The peculiar environmental position of Kasmir provided a fertile soil for all this mixture of religions, cultures and philosophies.
In the field of education too, Kasmir did not lag behind.
There was a time when Kasmir was a great seat of learning. The great saradapitha was recognised as one of the most prominent seats of learning in our country. Thousands of students from all parts of the world had thronged to this great centre of learning. Teaching in all branches of learning was imparted there.
In Kasmir's most congenial and favourable environment, many scholars achieved miraculous intellectual heights and contributed their best share to different fields of Sanskrit Literature. Their invaluable contribution enriched Sanskrit literature to a commandable extent. The Science of poeties was propounded there which later on spread over to other parts of our country. In other branches too, the contribution of Kasmirian scholars excels both in quantity and quality.¹ The scholars like Vasugupta. (founder of Kasmir Saiva-Philosophy), Mammața (great rhetorician), kalhana (a great historien), Abhinavagupta, (a versatile genius), Ksmendra (a profile writer), Ratnakara, Anandavardhana, Billhana etc. (the poets of high merit) produced the literature of an immense value. All their works dealing with diverse subjects such as religion, philosophy, romance, satire, dramaturgy, history, lexicons, grammar, sociology, etc. constituted a rich legacy in sanskrit literature. It is beyond doubt that there is hardly any branch of Sanskrit literature which remains untouched by the Kasmirian scholars. Thus the Kasmirian scholars played a significant role in the development of Sanskrit literature.
It is worth while to note that the poets of Kasmir showed their excellency in the field of poetry. The beauty and grandeur of the poetry composed there was recognised by both the scholars and readers. The poetical creation by Kasmirian scholars also covers a wide diversity of themes. It was a general belief that Kasmir being the abode of the goddess of learning was the most suitable place for composing unique and beautiful poetry. Billhana claims that because the poetry and saffron are like brothers they, therefore, like together only in Kasmir and not anywhere else.
According to a wellknown anecdote, Sriharsa, the cellebrated poet of the Naisadhaharit has to go to Kasmir to get recognition for his poem. After a great deal to trial the goddess of learning bestowed a recognition on his kavya (NC) and Sri Harsa himself gratefully ackonwledges the recognition that was granted to his kavya by the kasmirian scholars."
It is also gratifying to note that the kings of kasmir gave a commendable patronage for the growth of poetry and other literature in kasmir form time to time.
The great kings like Lalitaditya, Avantivarman and jayaditya etc. were lover of Sanskrit poetry in particular and other literature in general. The poet always remained a past time for them. Again we remember Billhana who claims that even the women of kasmir were well-versed in the Sanskrit language in kasmir and a majority of people could speak Sanskrit fluently.
Sanskrit remained the official language in kasmir even during the reign of the early sultans there.
e.g. up to the end 14th Century A.D
There was a belief among the people that if even a man with mediocre talent would go to kasmir, he could be able to compose a poetry of high standard spontaneously. The same type of belief is now popular in European countries regarding the Alps. Is it that poetry and snowy mountains go together.
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