Kashmir the Abode of Rishis

Kashmir the Abode of Rishis

Sham S.Misri

Kashmir is known as the abode of Rishis because it has provided a calm and serene shelter to sages and savants for their penance. In the hoary past, it was inhabited by the Nagas as is proved by Nila in his Nilmat Purana and Kalhana in his Rajatarangini. Nila, himself a naga, was the son of the illustrious Rishi, Kashyapa. The penance and the efforts of Kashyapa transformed the vast span of water called the 'Sati Sar' into a fertile valley fit for inhabitation and worship by the austere Rishis. It was he who helped these Rishis to get rid of the demon 'Jalodbhava'. These Rishis, finding the place secure for their 'Tapas', made it their home and gave it the name 'Kashyapa-mar' after the Rishi who founded it. This name, in due course became Kashmir.

These pious and compassionate Rishis did not neglect the nagas and rakshasas who were the original tribesmen living in this land. They made arrangements to satisfy their needs acid requirements from time to time. This gave rise to certain peculiar customs and festivals, not prevalent in any other part of the country. These forest-dwelling tribes would usually demand food items during the winter months. It is because of this that most of these festivals are held in the month of 'Pausha' of the lunar calendar.

Chakrishwar Shrine of Srinagar, Kashmir

Chakrishwar the abode of Maha Shakti (Parvati) on the hill of Sharika Parvat has been a source of inspiration for many scholars, saints and philosophers of Kashmir from ancient times.

Situated in the centre of Srinagar city in Kashmir valley, it has come into existence millions of years ago as per the descriptions in the Neel mat Puran, the oldest script on Kashmir history and religion.

The Puranic description says that the Chakrishwar came into being after the Parvati in the form of a bird lifted a pebble in her beak and dropped it into the centre of Satisar, the present day Kashmir, which was a lake millions of years ago, to kill the demon Jalodbhava who had created terror among the people living on the bank of Satisar. The place, where the Maha shakhti had dropped the pebble developed into a hill which was later named as Hari Parvat, after the water from the Satisar was drained out by Saint Kashyap Rishi through his great meditation. The legend goes that the Shakhti had formed the shape of a bird called Har (Mina), in Kashmiri while dropping the pebble into the Satisar.