ADI SHANKRACHARYA IN KASHMIR

Adi Shankaracharya, a great philosopher - a saint of high order, who re-established true faith in upanishads and gave Vedanta philosophy a right footing. He visited Kashmir & by his name the famous Shankaracharya Temple is situated in Shrinagar.

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He visited Kashmir when Buddhism was dominating in India, the great Shankaracharya launched a Vigorous Campaign in the South and popularized the cult of Bhakti, to reduce the influence of Buddhist domination.

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He had a sweeping tour of the country and defeated Buddhist Scholars with his powerful logic.

"He checked the tidal wave of nihilism (denial of all reality) .

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At the same time Kashmir was also under strong influence of Buddhism, when Vasugupta appeared on the scene and changed the whole current of religious thoughts. He propagated the 'Siva Sutra', revealed to him by 'Shiva' himself, as engraved on a big stone at

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the foot of Mahadeva mountain.

Shankaracharya visited Kashmir after giving a final blow to Buddhism in the rest of India. Shankaracharya visited Kashmir with the intention of advancing Vedantic knowledge.

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That time Kashmiris were culturally and spiritually much advanced and believed strongly in the greatness of both Shiva and Shakti.

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Adi Shankaracharya – gained further depth in spiritualism and mysticism in Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits highly appreciative of knowledge , awarded a degree of the Sharda Peetha, the highest honour conferred on any dignitary of knowledge when Shankaracharya visited Sharda,

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a famous temple, Shrine of Goddess Saraswati and a famous university of learning.

It is believed that was Adi Shankaracharya entered the Sarda temple from its Sothern gate and had a debate with the Scholars of that Area/Temple.

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He emerged as a winner and was conferred to sit on Sarvanjnanapeetham or Sarvajna peetha(Throne of Wisdom). In his Honor, the southern gate of Sarda temple was closed for ever.

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In old times, the aborigines of this place were the tribals named Nagas, Pishachas and Yakshas, who used to go in summer towards Tibet and return to Kashmir in winter.

Because of the fear of these tribals, the Brahmins used to depart from the valley before the tribals returned.


The Brahmins begin to reside in Kashmir permanently, only after they started giving presents to these Aborigines on specific festivals at the suggestion of Nila Nag,

the King of Nagas. He continued to rule Satidesa (Kashmir valley) even after its desiccation.

[Let humans settle down permanently in Kashmir,
O, possessed of the fierce prowess. The people are always facing misery in coming and going.


Leaving their homes in various places, the humans
are troubled. With their favour let them live
here. This is the boon I solicit. : Nila (said): “Let it be so, O best among the twice-born. The humans may live here permanently, if you follow my instructions, which

I received from Keshava”].

The festival Khichiramavasya is still observed by all Kashmiri Hindus. On this day, which falls on the fifteenth day of the dark 3 fortnight of the month of Poh (generally in the month of December- January),

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॥ॐ॥
अस्य श्री गायत्री ध्यान श्लोक:
(gAyatri dhyAna shlOka)
• This shloka to meditate personified form of वेदमाता गायत्री was given by Bhagwaan Brahma to Sage yAgnavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).

• 14th shloka of गायत्री कवचम् which is taken from वशिष्ठ संहिता, goes as follows..


• मुक्ता-विद्रुम-हेम-नील धवलच्छायैर्मुखस्त्रीक्षणै:।
muktA vidruma hEma nIla dhavalachhAyaiH mukhaistrlkShaNaiH.

• युक्तामिन्दुकला-निबद्धमुकुटां तत्वार्थवर्णात्मिकाम्॥
yuktAmindukalA nibaddha makutAm tatvArtha varNAtmikam.

• गायत्रीं वरदाभयाङ्कुश कशां शुभ्रं कपालं गदाम्।
gAyatrIm vardAbhayANkusha kashAm shubhram kapAlam gadAm.

• शंखं चक्रमथारविन्दयुगलं हस्तैर्वहन्ती भजै॥
shankham chakramathArvinda yugalam hastairvahantIm bhajE.

This shloka describes the form of वेदमाता गायत्री.

• It says, "She has five faces which shine with the colours of a Pearl 'मुक्ता', Coral 'विद्रुम', Gold 'हेम्', Sapphire 'नील्', & a Diamond 'धवलम्'.

• These five faces are symbolic of the five primordial elements called पञ्चमहाभूत:' which makes up the entire existence.

• These are the elements of SPACE, FIRE, WIND, EARTH & WATER.

• All these five faces shine with three eyes 'त्रिक्षणै:'.

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