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Kashmeer

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Kashmeer

Corrupt of Kashyapmeer, a northernmost region in India. Till the end of 18th century the Muslims of Kashmeer remembered that they were originally Braahman but were forcibly converted to Muslims. They asked the King of Kashmeer to help them convert them back to Hindu. The King asked the high priest of Vaaraanasee, but he refused to take them back. Kashmeer was a great center of Shaiv sect of its own kind known as Kashmeer Shaivism.
[Aangiras, p 102]

Its Pauraanik name is Poorv Kashyap Puree. It has been affiliated with several Pauraanik stories.
It is believed that Saam Ved was written here.
Kaali Daas also got inspiration for his writings from this place only.

Kaiyyat-like grammarian was also from here only Kalhan and Vilhan-like Sanskrit poets also were from here only.
The great poet Kalhan has written an interesting story about the origin of Kashmeer. That in the beginning of the Creation, during early six Manvantar this part of the land was under water and Shankar and Paarvatee Jee used to enjoy here, that is why this body of water came to be called "Satee Sar". Later one Raakshas, Jalodbhav started creating havoc, so Kashyap Rishi killed him and inhabited this Kashmeer here.

Bhagavatee Shaaradaa also incarnated here. The legend goes on that once Devtaa requested Maharshi Durvaasaa to sing. He was in a flux, but he sang. It was very out of the tune, so Shaaradaa could not stop laughing at it. Durvaasaa is a very angry Rishi, so he got very angry at this and he cursed her. At this she requested him to free her from his curse. Rishi told that he was very sorry and that nothing could be done then. There was only one way that she could take birth in  Aarya Lok in Kashyap Puree-like beautiful place and thus she was born in Kashyap Puree - in modern Kashmeer. And for the same reason Kashmeer was called the "Forehead of Bhaarat".
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Ancient epics narrate that the valley of Kashmir was originally a great lake called - Satisar. Rishi Kashyap through rigorous penance, drained all the lake water and created number of rivulets which merged with rivers like Jhelum and Indus. He made this area worthy of habitation for people. Therefore Kashmir gets its name from Kashyap.

Through his Tapasyaa Kashyap invited Shiv to bless the place. So Shiv himself came to bless it. The place where Shiv came is known as Amarnath .It is believed that God Shiv dwells in a cave here even today in the form of ice lingam. Amarnath is 145 km north of Srinagar. Millions of Hindu pilgrims come here every year.

Rulers of Kashmeer
Son of Kashyap - Neel, became the first ruler of Kashmeer.

Later Kashmeer was ruled by the Maurya (322 -185 BCE) and Kushaan (100 AD) Empires. Kashmeer remained under Hindu rule for centuries. Islam arrived around 1200 AD through traders and missionaries.

In 1327 AD, Rinchen Shah the Hindu ruler of Kashmeer was persuaded to convert to Islam by Abdur Rehman Bulbul who came from central Asia. The last Hindu king, Udiana Deva was replaced in 1346 by the first Muslim Sultaan - Shams-ud-Din Iltutmush who was from a noble family of the Ilbari Turks of East Turkistaan…….

Change of rule took place when Mugal Emperor Akbar conquered Kashmeer in 1586.

Durraanee Empire (1747-1823) with its capital at Kandahar, defeated the decaying Mugal Empire's rule in Kashmeer and Ahmed Shah Durraanee ruled Kashmeer from 1757 till 1819. The Sikh Confederacy of Punjab under Ranjit Singh won Kashmeer in 1819 from Durraanee .Ranjit Singh ruled over Kashmeer and the greater part of what is now in Pakistaan. Its capital was Amritsar and Lahore.

In 1846, the British defeated the Sikhs. Lord Harding sold Kashmeer for Rs 7.5 million to Ghulab Singh .
Ghulab Singh was the ruler of Jammu & Laddaakh. He was Ranjit Singh's grand-nephew. Ghulab Singh established the Dogaraa Dynasty (Jamwal Rajput) which produced 4 rulers who contributed tremendously for Kashmeer. Ghulab Singh died in 1857 and was succeeded by his son Ranbir Singh.
Thereafter Partap Singh ruled Kashmeer. Partab Singh was succeeded by and Hari Singh (father of Dr Karan Singh ).
India-Pakistan partition took place in 1947.
Hari Singh was given the choice to join either India or Paakistaan or remain independent. Hari Singh chose to join India . Hari Singh appointed Sheik Abdullah as the Chief Minister of Kashmeer.

Sheik Abdullah then formed the party - Muslim Conference, which was later renamed as National Conference in 1932. Sheik Abdullah kept opposing Hari Singh and in 1946 launched "Quit Kashmeer" movement against Hari Singh.

In the end of 1947 Nehru started discussing with Sheik Abdullah the terms of integration with India. This was a significant departure from the practice being followed, as for merging Princely States with India was being handled by Sardar Patel. Over a disagreement with Nehru, Sardar Patel resigned. However Gandhijee brokered a compromise and Sardar stayed on.

It was Nehru and Sheik Abdullah who produced Article 370 - a temporary provision - the most debated article during the past 60 years!
Article 370 states that J & K is an integral part of India. Kashmeer people have the best of everything . They can settle anywhere in India, but outsiders cannot settle in Kashmeer…. Kashmeer comprises of previously undivided districts of Anant Naag, Baramulla and Srinagar (now divided into 10 districts).

“India is Kashmeer to Kanyaa Kumaaree ” is not correctly worded as Kashmeer is not the Northern most tip of India; Laddaakh is.
Kashmeer is not in POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir).

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
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Updated on 02/12/14