O N Kaul Retd KAS

A Great Tirath Place Of Kashmir-ancient town of Varmulla

At distance of forty five kms north of Kashmir, is an ancient town of Varmulla or Baramulla which contains on its lap evidences of ancient civilizations which are still visible from ancient archaeological ruins and historical sights existing in the area. The topmost amongst these can be said to be Kuti tirth.

Baramulla occupies culturally a most important place in Kashmir. In this town lies a village Ushkar which is corrupt forma of Huviskhupura which, as per Kalhan Pandit, the famous, the 12th century Kashmiri historian, was the name of a city founded by Huviskha, the great Kushan King in the second century A.D. It is situated on the principal ancient trade route between Kashmir and north western India. It was a flourishing town during medieval times. As evidenced by the accounts of foreign travellers and indigenous literature the chief route from Kashmir on the west was that which went from Varmulla to Gandhara. In the 8 century A.D. Ou-Kong coming from Gandhara followed this route to Kashmir. Alburoni in his book Kitab-Ul-Hind, gives detailed description and calls it the best known entrance to Kashmir.

Situated in beautiful natural surroundings on the banks of Vitasta or Jhelum river with serene environment, inspired Hindus to construct Hindu Shakti and Shiva. Shrines. King Lalitaditya built a shrine of Lord Vishnu named Muktaswamin and a large vihra with a stupa. Hsuan-tsang, the great Chinese pilgrim who visited Kashmir in 631 A.D. entered the valley through Baramulla and spent his first night in one of the monasteries over here. The king gave him a warm welcome sending his mother and younger brother with chariots and horses to escort him to the capita. Over here ruins of a stupa and its surrounding wall exists which was built by Kind Lalitaditya in the middle of eighth century A.D. Its lower base is still impact of third and forth century Gandhara school. These are preserved in Stringer museum and tourists from world over used to visit these before the start of militancy in 1989 A.D. At the two ends of the village stand two colossal Shiv Linga which are worshipped since ages past along with Shakti.

The actual name of Baramulla is Baramulla, named after the Boar incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu God, as Kashmir since ages past is called a holy land of Hinduism. It was a most important religious place in the mediaeval times.

The temple of Adi-varaha "Primeval Boar" destroyed by Skinder iconoclast who ruled Kashmir during 13-78 A.D. is said to have been one of the most splendid. Its site has been identifies as Kuiti thirth situated half a mile below the bridge. Even today one can see few architectural stones laying at the place. But the great solace this destroyed temple area offers is the existence of a large human faced Shiv Linga. Shiva along with Shakti is worshipped over here. There is another comparatively modern temple at Devibal where Shiva and Shakti is worshiped.

During 1989 Hindus were made to flee from their mother land at the point of gun and attendance in Hindu shrines and temples because very cylinder. During Sultan Skinder's rule Kashmiri

Hindus were either killed, converted to Islam or made to flee from their home land and only eleven Kashmiri Pandita families remained. They were paid in bad coin as it was Hindu King of Kashmir Sahadeva (1305-24) who settled three outsiders in Kashmir namely Shahmir from Swat, Ranchan Shah a defeated Tibetian prince, and Lanker Chak defeated by enemies. He "little knew, as per recording of Pandit Anand Kaul in his book "Kashmiri Pandit" that these outsiders, whom he was harbouring in his Kingdome with such kindness, would soon overthrow the Hindu rule in Kashmir" But it was a Kashmiri Pandit Saint and Vaid who treated his worst enemy, Sultan Zain Ul Abdin and brought him back from his death bed and became well wisher of Kashmiri Pandits and brought them back from the plains of India and settled them in Kashmir offering them government employment. He came to be called Bud Shah, big king Gradually Kashmiri Pandits grew and resumed the worship of their religious places as also at Kuti Tirtha at Varmulla.

Later rulers checks and Pathan's once again persecuted Kashmiri Pandits until two Kashmiri Pandits, Rajkak Dhar and Birmal Dhar with help of their Muslim neighbour Kadus Gojwari, fled on foot from Kashmir to Lahore and invited Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruler of Punjab to invade Kashmir and brought back Hindu ruler after 496 years in 1819. Later after Sikh rule Dogra rule followed giving was to popular Indian democratic rule. But even in the democratic rule, the Kashmiri Pandits got worser treatment from Muslim fundamentalists through militancy fanned from across the border made Kashmiri Pandits to flee once again from Kashmir at the point of gun living behind their homes and hearth. They are now refugees in their own county staying in Jammu and elsewhere. These include Kashmiri Pandits of Baramulla as well. They from where ever they be, are praying to their Shiva and Shakti of Kuti Tirtha, in continuation to their centuries old traditions for restoration of peace and prosperity in Kashmir which includes Baramulla as well.

This is the third turn of exiling Kashmir Pandits from Kashmir. But the precedence is that they have been coming back again at stated above. Presently they are in the exile, they continue to pray to their gods and goddesses. They believe that their faith is more important and not only the structures which is was confirmed by Swami Vivekananda at Khier Bhawani temple in Kashmir in eighteenth Century A.D. He went there and remained there for seven days before the destroyed goddess temple by Muslim fundamental, performing Yagnia. He lamented on the destruction of the temple due to lack of protection. Holy mother appeared before him and made him to realize that she protects the universe and not to speak of protecting the temple. It was here that he got divine vision. Accordingly if structure of Kuti tirtha was destroyed, the lord is there to bless his devotees. At Baramulla a Kashmiri Pandit organization namely Sanatan Dahram Sabha was functioning and maintaining all the religious places including Gosani Teng and after migration to Jammu they continue to operate from their Jammu office and pray to their goods and goddess to send notice again a rehabilitator like Bud shah bring them back  to their homes along with pristine grace to Kashmir and eventually to Baramulla.

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in the Article above are O N Kaul’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy: O N Kaul Retd KAS and The Martand- The Official organ of All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference: 16th November, 2009