Shri Jagannath Siboo (Raina) – the Reputed Shaktivaad Scholar of Kashmir

 

Kashmir, as we know, has been an epicentre of the vibrant Shakth (Mother God dess) tradition since ages. Shakti, perceived as Parashakti, is the Supreme Goddess and symbolises a majestic religious expression in our geography and indigenous ethnicity. Sh. Jagannath Siboo (Raina), an outstanding name in the Shakth tradition, has made a notable contribution in the study and understanding of the Shaktha practices and the related spiritual aspects. He had studied the Shakti Tattva under the able guidance of Sh. Madhav Kak Yaksha Jyotshi, a resident of Ali Kadal Srinagar. Sh. Jagannath Siboo was a resident of Khardori lane, Purshayar, Habba Kadal, Srinagar. He was the grand son of Shri Vasudev Yaksha, a well-known religious scholar of his time, who was conferred the Vashist Upadhi award for his contribution and services during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh of Kashmir. Sh. Siboo was born on 4th August 1919, and left his mortal frame on 29th April 2001 at Mumbai, where he was putting up with his son, Dr. Vijay Kumar Raina, an Ex-group director, Babha Atomic research centre, post exodus. Sh. Siboo was an alumnus of “Rajkiya Sanskrit Pathshala”, Bagh-e-Dilawar Khan, Fateh Kadal Srinagar. He had mastery in the objective growth of the Darshan Shastra of the Kashmir Shaktivaad. He, climbing upon the ladder of success, rose from a school teacher to the coveted post of the head Pandit at the department of Hindi and Sanskrit, Govt Oriental College, Srinagar. After a dedicated service, he retired from the Govt job, and engaged himself fully in teaching and guiding the Shakta adherents. Sh. Siboo has the credit of having introduced the “Lalita Sahastranama Homa Paddhati” in the Kashmiri religious discourse and practice. Shri Jagannath Siboo va Sanskrit Prathisthana, besides being the founder member of the Shakti Prakash Kendra, Srinagar. His contribution to Kashmir Shakti Veda has also been acknowledged by Prof. P N Pushp in his work “Shakth Vimarshad” which was prefaced by Sh. Dina Nath Yaksh, a reputed Sanskrit scholar of Kashmir. He also authored the book “Shri Jyeshta Pradhur bhava” which refers to the divine manifestation of the Goddess Jyestha and that of her younger divine sibling, the Goddess Lakshmi in the month of Jyes tha (May-June). As per the book, it marks the day of self-manifestation of the Goddess in the form of Shri Jyestha Pradhurbhava “Svayambhu”. According to the book, the Goddess Jyestha encompasses both the Trika and Kaula traditions of Kashmir. The Goddess is said to rep resent the Para-Shakti, the Supreme power which is beyond the perceived dualities, as her Manifes tation is said to symbolize the blissful decent of “Chit-Shakti” or the conscious energy. Sh. Siboo, in this book, has named the Goddess Jyestha as “Rajyakari Devi” whose manifestation bestows ruler ship to a devotee. He also opines that the “Pradhurbhava” of the goddess Jyestha symbo loses the spiritual sovereignty, the protection of the land and the victory over all types of ignorance. According to the author, it is the reason that the Goddess Jyestha is also invoked as a “Khetra Devi” or the Tutelary Goddess of Kashmir in the esoteric expression in the Trika philosophy. As inferred in the book, the Goddess Jyestha, in the deeper Trika tradition, is the eldest (Jyestha) amongst the three Kalis (Jyestha, Raudri and Vama). It also says that the manifestation of the God dess signifies the initial emergence of the Supreme Consciousness into differentiated awareness, which marks the play of Shakti. Sh. Siboo was honoured by the “Madhyama Pratipadha Pratrika” for his significant contribution to the Shakth Darshan, especially in the aspect of Shakti Tattva. He has also written on the time-hon oured festival of Hora Ashtami and on the theme of the “Mantra Gudaka Abhishakam” of Chakrishwari. A few valuable pages of the said manuscript, written during the last days of his life, are with his grandson Dr Abhinav Raina, but unfortunately, they have not been deciphered so far. His manuscripts on the Goddess Tripura Sundari have been used as a reference material for research by Prof. Giridhar Tikoo, Depart ment of Comparative languages, Illinois university, USA. Sh. Siboo ‘s authored works have also been referred to by Prof. Z.L. Jalla in his research assignment. Sh. Siboo has remained a life member of Vish Sh. Siboo has imparted Shaktivaad related knowledge to many seekers, including Dr. Chaman Lal Raina, who has inherited this knowledge, especially the Kadi Vidya in the context of “Sapt Shati Maimasa Sritti”. Dr. Raina is acknowledged as an authority on Shaktivaad tradition of Kashmir and has authored numerous books. Smt. Jaya Siboo is one more noteworthy disciple who has been guided and mentored in the related “Beej Jnanarva”. She later on versified the Beej Mantra in Kashmiri poetry, published under the title “Mantric Bhajan Deepika”. Sh. Siboo regards Shakti as the highest reality of the Divine Mother, who is the primordial energy controller of all the forces and the main power behind the Divine Cosmic evolution. Needless to say that Sh. Jagannnath Siboo (Raina), despite ordi nariness in his deposition, has left behind an indelible legacy in the form of his works in the Shakti Tradition of Kashmir, which will be remembered for a long time to come.

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Courtesy:  UPENDER AMBARDAR  and  Spade A Spade-July 2025