1999 07 00 In and Around the Metropolis- KECSS Lectures

The second lecture in the series, "Public Lectures by Eminent People'', was delivered by Shri Virender Qazi on "Kashmir Shaivism in Today's Perspective", on Sunday, 6 June 1999, at the KECSS Library, Pamposh Enclave, New Delhi. Shri M.K. Kaw, President, KECSS, was in the chair. Before the lecture, a condolence meeting was held in memory of the Late Padma Shri Moti Lal Saqi, the Kashmiri poet and writer. Shri B.L. Kaul Chaman spoke about the poet's association with the KECSS and the precious gift of books that he made to the Library many years ago. Shri Kaul also showed the august gathering a collection of rare photographs of temples and monuments in Kashmir that Shri Saqi had handed over to him for preservation and display at the permanent premises of the KECSS. Two minutes' silence was observed in memory of the departed soul of the great poet .

Shri M L. Pandit introduced Shri Virender Qazi, speaker of the evening, highlighting his keen interest in Kashmir Shaivism and Lalleshwari Shri Qazi, in his brilliant talk, spoke of the ascetics and saints of Kashmir whose example generated his own interest in Shaiva mystical philosophy, which is the need of the hour, since the world is full of discords and differences in spite of the great communication explosion of the computer age. He spoke of the 36 tarwas of Kashmir Shaivism together with the pancha mahabhutas and their crucial role in cosmic evolution Sat chit anand signifies that Shiva is at the centre of all things and a great source of peace-giving ecstasy.

Next, Shri Qazi commented on the positive and negative forces of universal consciousness. Purusha is the submerged inner soul and prakriti its external manifestation. Five jnanendriyas under control of contemplative meditation lead to the destruction of ahankar. The chain of karma carries an individual from bondage to bondage, i.e. from janma to janma, Yoga helps to discipline vasna and defeat its evil consequences. Step by step, the practice of Shaivism takes the individual to the highest form of samadhi, which is the state of true bliss. Without the teaching of a guru such an evolution is not possible. Shri Qazi explained the concepts of Anandalaya, Shambhavi Paya, Shaktopaya or Gyanodaya, Anu upaya, Uchara Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Sthana Kalpa Shri Qazi said that Kashmir Shaivism teaches the practice of Trika Yoga, which is a process of discovery linking the individual soul with the universal soul The world is to be accepted in its totality and not to be rejected or avoided The true sadhaka w very much in the world and yet immersed in Shiva Shri Qazi also spoke of the relevance of Lala Vaakhs in explaining the deep mysteries of Shaiva thought To illustrate the point, he recited a number of co gent Vaakhs, which were much appreciated by the audience.

In his presidential remarks, Shri M.K Kaw pointed to the similarity between the Kashmir Shaivism and the teachings of Paramhans Sri Ramakrishna. From among the audience, Prof SN Dhar expressed the opinion that Shri Qazi's lecture be given wide publicity in the media. Shri BL Kaul Chaman requested the speaker of the evening to collect the basic tenets of Shaivism and make them available to the general public in the form of a pamphlet. Shri TN Ganju commented on the relative significance of the Shiva-Shakti principle as a central precept of Shaivism. Prof. B.B. Dhar, Vice-President of KECSS, thanked the chair, the speaker and the audience at the conclusion of a highly successful program.

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The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article.

Courtesy:  M L Pandit and July 1999 Koshur Samachar