Kashmiri Pandits both racially as well as ethinically are known to be the decendants of Kashyp Rishi. It is said that the Kashayp Rishi married the daughters of Daksh called Kadru and Vaneeta. While Kadru gave birth to one thousand powerful naags out of which Vaski Nag, Taksh Nag, Shaish Nag & Kali Nag stood tall, while as Vaneeta gave birth to Arun and Garuda. It is said that in his early age Garuda went to the Himalayas for meditation of Lord Vishnu. One day, both Vaneeta and Kadru were enjoying the sunrise and started discussing the color of the horses of the chariot of Sun God. Kadru said the color was black while Vaneeta was adament on white color. At last there was a bet in which the one who lost will serve other as a her servant. Kadru realised that she lost the bet and was worried that she will have to serve Vaneeta all her life. But her sons assured her that next sunrise they will wrap the horses and she will win the bet. Next morning both the sisters were eagerly waiting for the sunrise, since the horses were now clinged with the black naags, they appeared black and Vaneeta lost the bet and began serving Kadru. In the meantime Garuda came back from his meditation and told his mother that since Lord Vishnu was impressed with his devotion he has been offered to remain with Lord as his Vahan (carrier/ride). Vaneeta was happy for his son and also told him the whole tale of becoming a servant of her own sister. Garuda told Vaneeta that she had been cheated and thus revenge will be taken. On Naradji’s intervention, Garuda decided to go to the Lord Vishnu and ask for a solution. Lord Vishnu granted boon to him saying that the Naags will not have any effect on him and since then the Garuds & Naags became enemies. The serpants did serve the Garudas and in a hope of freeing themselves they started serving Narayana. The story goes on and it is said that the Nag futher remained in that area while as the Garuda flew to the east.
Thus
Kashmiri Pandits are believed to be the residents of Kashmir since the
Pro-Regvedic era (1700-1100BC). History of the Kashmiri Pandits starts
with the history of Kashmir valley which is more than 11000 years old.
Thus the Pandits are responsible for society, culture, civilization,
customs, traditions, myths and realities of Kashmir.
It is said that Kashmir was once filled with the river called Satisar
or Saraswati river. Once the cleft at Baramulla appeared and hence the
water of river was dried. Now the people living on the banks of the
Saraswati river travelled to the Kashmir Valley to continue their
austerities. With time they came to be known as Kashmiri Pandits of
Kashmiri Battas. The valley of the Kashmir housed many Saints, Sages,
Seers by which the community became a believer of Shaivism, Kali, Shakti
and Trantra. It is also said by the experts that Kashmir has been the
original home of the Aryan race. Kashmiri Pandits have been religiously
rooted with Shaivism. It is said that in 400AD a school of Shiv
Phylosophy called Pratyabhijna orignated nea Kailasha in Himalayas. This
school adopts purely monistic and metaphysical position and is based on
the phylosophy that Lord Maheshwara or Shiva is the supreme reality,
which is innermost as well as Transcedent. And hence, Kashmir is called
as the fountain-head of all the civilization and divine spirituality.
However its been not so long, just from
the couple of mellinniums that the race was tried being dominated by
other religions and castes. Initially it was Bhuddhism that flourished
in North Kashmir housing over 500 monks to attend a Bhuddhist council in
the valley during the reign of Durnadeo,
Simhadeo,
Sundersen, Ashoka and Kanishka. It is also said that during the reign
of Abhimanu in Kashmir the Pandits had to struggle for their survival as
large number of their sect was forced to convert into Bhuddhism.
History says that some of Kashmiri scholars – Kumarajiva (AD 384-417),
Shakyashri Badhra (AD 405), Ratnavera, Shama Bhatta (5th Cen AD) and
others went to China and Tibet to preach Buddhism. Then Pandits again
gained power with the reign of Nara I which gave a rise to modern
Hinduism giving an end to the Pandit- Bhuddhist struggle. However the
actual comparative historical validity began with the establishment of
the Karkuta rule in AD 627. After him, Avantivarman ruled Kashmir from
855-833AD. He is believed to be first Vaishnaviet rule of the valley and
he bought a good cultural development in the valley. Again after couple
of centuries, Kashmir struggle with the existence of Pandits against
Kayasthas during the reign of Shankara varman. The authority of the
Brahmans was broken and the sacred character of their citadels was
violated. However, the Shaivite thoughts and philosophy still
flourished.
Then during the reign of Lohara dynasty, Kashmir came under the influence of Islam. When Mehmud Ghazni annexed Punjab, most of the Kashmiri Pandits converted into Islam for the sake of their lives. At that time, the Valley was ruled by Sangram Raja (AD 1003-1028). Even after their conversion to Islam, these people continued to visit Kashmir – as traders, wanderers and even missionaries. It is also said some of the converties stayed in the valley propogating their new religion. Similar things happened in the reign of Harsha (AD 1089-1101); Gopadeva (AD 1171-1180); Jassaka (AD 1180-1198) where the temple treasuries were depleted and Islam started to consolidate its roots. Roots of Pandits were shattered again and they were never allowed to monopolize.In the reign of Jassaka (AD 1180-1198), two Brahmans – Kshuksa and Bhima, endeavored to capture the throne. But it was the fear of Damaras or feudal lords that prevented them. Ramadeva (AD 1252-1273) humiliated those Brahmans who had helped him in his coronation. They conspired against him but could not succeed. A reign of terror, loot and plunder was let loose against them. Many Brahmans were killed and others crushed barbarously. This was the first direct assault against them in the history of Kashmir. To save themselves they cried “ Na Batoham” (I am not a Bhatta).
The Kashmiri Pandits are even now taunted as Bhattas and Dalli 
Bhattas.
During the reign of Suhadeva (AD 1301-1320) many Muslim adventurers
came to Kashmir. The chief among them was a Muslim missionary- Bulbul
Shah. Dulucha, a Tartar chief from Central Asia, invaded Kashmir with
60,000 strong horsemen. Suhadeva tried to induce him to retreat by
paying him off a large sum of money by imposing heavy taxes on Pandits
who till then never lived by paying taxes. Dulucha denied the offer and
continued the terror attacks. As mentioned in Baharistan – i -Shahi;
Dulucha and his army men killed every men they found, women and children
were made slaves and were sold to the merchants of Turkistan. Suhadev
fled to Kishtawar and Dulucha looted kashmir for eight months. It is
said that he took with him 500,000 pandits as slaves. There were only
few cursed Pandit families left in the haunted valley blaming their
ruler Suhadeva for the mishap. Taking the advantage of this, a pseudo-
Buddhist from Tibet occupied the throne. Since he wanted to wanted to
get initiated into the Brahmanical fold to strengthen his political
position, he called religious head to indoctrinate himself into the
Hindu religion. But the Pandits denied and refused to accept him as a
Hindu because of his low birth. Pandits were not ready to share their
“Panditsm” with any outsider. However taking advantage of this Shahmir
and Bulbul Shah (missionaries from Islam) manipulated his conversion
into Islam and thus the Muslim ruling in Kashmir came into existence.
During his rule, people of poorer families and subdued casts were
gradually converted into Islam.
In AD 1339, Shahmir ascended the throne
of Kashmir by a foul play. He got khutaba read and the coins struck to
his name and hence Islam became the court religion of Kashmir. Thus he
became the author as well as the architect of the valley. During his
reign Muslim missionaries, preachers, sayyids and saints penetrated into
the Valley. Gradually threat to the Pandit community due to the
establishment of Islam and gradual conversion led to a frail rebellion
during the reign of Shihab-ud-Din (AD 1354-1373). This annoyed the king
so much so that the poor Pandits had to pay a huge amount. Pandit
temples became a new target of the Muslim rulers. Many temples of
historic importance including that of Brijbhihara were wrecked.
The
Hindus began to feel deserted and alienated in their own land. To make
their roots more stronger in the valley, Muslim rulers passed a law
called the “policy of extermination” which meant to eradicate all traces
of Hinduism in any form. During this period many Pandits stuck with
their religion without fear however many of them also converted for the
sake of their lives or to gain royal favors. The converted Pandits have
been looked inferior, traitorous and treacherous, with no loyalty
towards their community. The King was now not interested in his ministry
affrairs rather he felt delighted in causing pain to Pandits. Its said
he took delight in breaking the images of Martanda, Vishaya, Ishana,
Chakrabrit and Tripureshvara.
There was no city, no town, no village, no wood where Turushka left the temples of the gods unbroken.It is said that the valley was so enriched with the fine workmenship of the magnificant temple structures that the King Sikandar was biwildered after having a sight. Sikandar, goaded by feelings of bigotry, destroyed them and levelled them with the earth and with the material built many mosques and khanqahs.He started his regime of destroying the temples from Martand temple (Built by Ramdeva and then rebuilt by King Lalitaditya, AD 724-760). It is said that when the king failed to demolish the temple in one year, he dug out stones from its base and having stored enough wood in their place, set fire to it. The gold gilt paintings on its walls were totally destroyed and the walls surrounding its premises were demolished. Its ruins even now strike wonder in men’s minds. On the similar lines the Vijiveshwara temple, was damaged and material collected from this site was used to built the mosque at the Khanqah, which is now known as Vijiveshwara mosque. It was notified that the Pandits either need to convert to Islam or get killed. As a result some Pandits fled from the valley and few convereted and those who retaliated were brutally murdered.
Then came the rule of the Mughals.
Akbar was said to be tremendously influenced by the amazing moral
supremacy of the Kashmiri Pandits.
As
recorded in Ain-i-Akbari, “the most respectable class in this country
(Kashmir) is that of the Pandits, who, notwithstanding their need for
freedom from the bonds of tradition and custom, are the true worshippers
of God. They do not loosen their tongue of calumny against those not of
their faith, nor beg, nor importune. They employ themselves in planting
fruit trees and are generally a source of inspiration for others”. The
greatness of Akbar lies in his magnificent and fascinating policy of
religious tolerance. Jahangir and Shah Jahan were not so tolerant. But
their religious enthusiasm cannot be termed as fanatic. During this
period, the Brahmans could perform their religious ceremonies after
paying some tribute. But the whole scenario changed with the accession
of Aurangzeb to the throne. With his bigoted fanatic and dogmatic
approach, the Kashmiri Pandits were once again made vulnerable.
Aurengzeb terrorized Pandits and it was the fourth disastrous mass
exodus of the Aryan Saraswat Brahmans from Kashmir. During the rule of
later Mughals, Kashmir witnessed the outbreak of the worst kind of
religious intolerance.In AD 1720, Mullah Abdul Nabi, also called Muhat
Khan, a non-resident Kashmiri Muslim, was appointed as Shaikhul Islam . .
In order to satisfy his satanic ego, the Mulla issued six commandments:
1.No Hindu should ride a horse, nor should a Hindu wear a shoe;
2.That they should not wear Jama (Mughal costume);
3.That they should move bare arms;
4.That they should not visit any garden;
5.That they should not have tilak mark on their foreheads;
6.That their children should not receive any education.
But the Deputy Governer disagreed, however the Mullah was able to
excite his followers against Pandits and made sure that these
commandments were follwed. The Pandits were wickedly tormented, their
houses burnt and property looted. Hundreds of Brahmans were killed,
prostrated, maimed and humiliated. Pandit parents destroyed the beauty
of their daughters by shaving their heads or cutting their noses and
ears to save them from degradation.
There was horrible mass exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits, sixth one. It is because of these tortures the Afghans are now only remembered for their barbarity, brutality, ferocity, tyranny and cruelty. It was then during the Sikh rule in Kashmir, AD 1819-1846, the celebrated Pandits reclaimed their past glory and magnificence. With the formation of Jammu and Kashmir State; and, establishment of the Dogra rule in 1846, Kashmiri Pandits were imperceptibly elbowed to the background.Administrators and officials were deputed from Jammu region. Though they enjoyed comprehensive religious freedom and social emancipation, political rights of the Kashmiri Pandits were confined. After independence and accession of Jammu & Kashmir state to India, Kashmiri Pandits were pushed back to the uncultured Afghan era. The administration of Shaikh Abdullah adopted malicious and pernicious approach towards the Saraswat Pandits of Kashmir. They were taunted on one excuse or the other. Hindu temples were desecrated, looted and plundered. Minor girls of the community were forced to embrace Islam and marry the Muslim youth.During 1953-1974 Shaikh Abdullah characterized India as an imperialist power endeavouring to subjugate the people of Kashmir. He asserted that the accession of Kashmir with India was his greatest blunder for which history will never forgive him. He also campaigned against the import of food grains from India and asked people to eat potatoes grown in Kashmir. Thus he was also known as “Aalo Bab”.
During his period of so called Sheikhdom, he was attrested many times, once in 1953 for anti-national activity however was relased in 1958. He was rearrested after 3 months of his release for “Kashmir conspiracy case” however the charges were dropped in 1964. But he was arrested again in May 1965 for his subversive activities and released in January 1968. Again, in January 1971, a ban was imposed forbidding him to enter the Jammu Kashmir state.This restriction was lifted in 1972. He made emotional solicitations that after death his body should not be buried in the subjugated Valley, but immersed into the sacred waters of Arabian sea. However, today his magnificent tomb stands on the banks of beautiful Dal Lake in Srinagar and is guarded by the Indian security personnel.But then the whole political scenario in Kashmir took a dramatic turn in 1974, when Indira-Shaikh accord was signed by virtue of which the Shaikh became the Chief Minister of the State after the lapse of 22 years.The sophist Shaikh began to speak the language of Indian nationalism, democracy, socialism and secularism. But hate India virus had already infected people of the state. And the History repeated itself with the mass exodus of Pandits in 1989-1990.
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