The ancient history of Jammu and Kashmir is known through many different sources such as, literary teats, archeological remains, ancient structures, etc. The state had been ruled by various kings and remained a home to many dynasties, for e.g. Mauryas, Kushanas, and Karkota and so on.
The earliest history of Kashmir could be traced during the epical Mahabharata period which reveals that the region was under the Republican system of Kambojas and Rajapura was their capital which is now known as Rajouri. Later, this region went in the hands of Panchala. It is known from the name Pir Panjal which is a distorted form of the Sanskritic tribal term ‘Panchala’.
Early History of Jammu and Kashmir
Kalhana, the first historian of Kashmir, was a 12th century AD poet-historian who wrote the Rajatarangini during 1148-1150 AD. It provides the earliest source on Kashmir that can be labelled as a reliable ‘historical text’ on this region. Nilamata Purana is the earliest known text of Kashmir which was written by some Kashmiri Brahmins between 6th and 7th century AD. It contains the sacred legends regarding the origin of the Kashmir valley, the rites and worships prescribed by Nila-The Lord of Kashmir Nagas. But it is not considered that much reliable as Rajatarangini text.
However, Kalhana used this text as a source to write history of Kashmir. According to the ‘Nilmata Purana’, Kashmir was once a lake which was drained out by rishi ‘Kashyapa’, who then asked people to settle in the valley. The people then named the valley as Kashyap Mar and Kashyap Pura.
The land had different names by different people like the ancient Greeks called this as Kasperia and the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, who visited the Kashmir valley around 631 AD, called it Kashi-Mi-Lo. The Kashmiri call their land as Kasheer.
Also, check: Jammu & Kashmir General Studies | General Knowledge of J&K
The early history of Jammu and Kashmir is divided into three ages which are as follows:
i. The Pre-Historic Age
Alexander Cunningham’s survey of the old structures mentioned in the chronicles of Kalhana and significant data tell about the historic and pre-historic periods of Kashmir. The Numismatic evidence in the shape of ancient gold, silver, copper and brass coins furnish evidences of a chain of kings, as mentioned by Kalhana and other chronicles, upto the modern times. According to Dr Sunil Chandra Ray, the valley has faced Quaternary glacial cycles and its clear evidence is the Lacusterine deposits of ‘Karewas’. It is divided into two groups. The lower Karewas is of Pleistocene Age and the upper Karewas is of the second Inter-Glacial Age.
A systematic excavation at this site began is 1960 by the Archaeological Department of India. Several pits have been discovered in sections near the silt bed, which indicate a settlement of early pit dwellers which dates back to 3000 BC and is considered the only such kind of settlement in India.
ii. The Neolithic Age
Neolithic was the period of primitive technological and social development in which men invented agriculture, pottery (to store harvest), domesticated horses and cows and formed a settled life near water bodies. Many evidences of Neolithic period have been found in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, especially at Burzahom (Srinagar) which is the first archaeological site in the country. Burzahom has a Neolithic settlement which is around 2375 BC old.
Seeds of wheat, barley and lentils have been found at Burzahom. In this period, Copper tools were invented and people also advanced the stone tools by making a pointed edge in them for hunting, farming and carving their dwellings in clay grounds. Important tools of this period were needles for sewing, harpoons for fishing and arrow-heads, spear-heads, daggers for hunting purpose. Stitched hides have also been discovered at the place. A Neolithic Skull has also been found at Burzahom.
- The skull has a hole dug into it due to which historians suggest that surgical practices may have taken place.
- Underground dwelling places have also been found at this site. These dwelling places are in a series of circular pits dug into the clay ground upto a depth of 3 metres.
- These pits are broad at the base and narrow at the opening which has holes around these where wooden poles were erected to support the roof which was made of tree branches.
In these pits grinding-stone, clay ovens and a pot filled with beads and semi-precious stones have been found. According to historians, the habitation at Burzahom ended in 1400 BC. Besides Burzahom, other archaeological sites of Kashmir are Begagund, Gofkral, Hariparigom, Olchibag, Pampur, Panzgom, Sombur Waztal and Brah.
iii. Megalithic Culture/Age
After Neolithic Age, megalithic culture started in which people erected massive stones or menhirs which were a symbol of notable events of the community. These menhirs were big boulders or massive stones and rocks. These menhirs were brought down from the hills by the people and erected at various sites near the places where people lived. Important discoveries of this age in the state are mudbrick structure, pottery (gritty red ware pottery) manufactured in a potter’s wheel, rubble structures, metal objects and tools made of bone and stone. Burzahom has traces of last level of activity which was around 3rd-4th Century AD.
Ancient Historical Empires in Jammu and Kashmir
In the historic era i.e. from 300 BC, the state witnessed the emergence of many empires.
Mauryan Empire
According to Kalhana, Kashmir was ruled by the Great Mauryan ruler Ashoka, during 304-232 BCE who was a follower of Buddhism. During his reign, the city of Srinagari (now as Pandrethan, old city of Srinagar) was founded. Many viharas, Shiva temples, Shrines, Stupas, etc were also built. To preach the faith of Buddha in the valley, Ashoka appointed Majjhantika, a Buddhist missionary to Kashmir and Urvasa. According to Hiuen Tsang about 500 Monks arrived to Kashmir and settled there.
Later, people started to embrace Buddhism here. Thus, during his rule, Buddhism was introduced in Kashmir. After the death of Ashoka, his son Jaluka became king who defeated the Malecchas (foreign tribes) and restored peace in the region. He was succeeded by his son Damodar-II who was a Shaivite (i.e believer of Shiva, the supreme God). According to many scholars, the Kashmir region was ruled by Indo-Greek kings for a period of 200 years.
The Kushan Dynasty
This dynasty came after the Mauryas when Kashmir was occupied by the three Kushana rulers. According to Kalhana’s account of Turushka kings, these three rulers were Hushka (established a town of Hushkapura), Jushka (established a town of Jushkapura) and Kanishka (established a town of Kanishkapura). Kanishka (127-150 CE) established many temples and viharas (monasteries) in Kashmir.
According to historians, the 4th Buddhist Council was held by Kanishka at Kundalvana (Harwan) in Kashmir which was headed by Vasumitra. Ashvaghosa and Nagarjuna participated in the council. In this council, Buddhism was divided into 2 sects, i.e. Mahayana and Hinayana.
It was the period of 4th century when Kashmir became a seat of learning for Buddhism as well as Hinduism. Buddhism was spread to Tibet, China and other parts of India by the Kashmiri Buddhist missionaries. Important Kashmiri Buddhist missionaries were Kumarjiva, Yasa, Gautam Sangha, Dharamputra, Shyama Bhata, etc.
Hepthalites Huns
During 5th and early 6th century, Toramana led Hephthalites Huns (Central Asian people) also known as ‘White Huns’ and conquered Northern and Central India including Kashmir. His son Mihirakula (502-530 CE) was a notorious Hun invader who wanted to conquer all of North India but was defeated by Yasodharman in Malwa. After his defeat, he moved to Kashmir and conquered Gandhar where he destroyed many shrines and committed atrocities. After his death, the influence of Huns came to an end.
Gonanda Dynasty
The first king of Kashmir was Gonanda-I as mentioned by Kalhana in the Rajatarangini. Other important rulers of this dynasty were Meghavahana, Pravarasena and Pravarasena-II. Pravarasena-II was a great ruler who extended the boundaries of the state as far as Saurashtra and subdued many other kings. He founded Pravarasenpura (modern city of Srinagar) which was identified by later historians on the basis of topographical details. Another important ruler was Meghavahana, who prohibited the hunting of birds and animals in his kingdom.
Other rulers of gonanda dynasty were: Yudhishthira-II, Narendraditya-I, Ranaditya-I, Vikramaditya and Baladitya.
Karkota Dynasty
This dynasty was founded by Durlabhavardhana (598-634 AD). During the reign of Durlabhavardhana, the Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang visited Kashmir and stayed there for nearly 2 years and studied Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures from learned scholars. The greatest ruler of Karkota dynasty was Lalitaditya Muktapida (724-760 AD). He was known as Samudragupta of Kashmir who conquered many regions in Asia and India i.e. Punjab, Kannauj, Tibet, Ladakh, Badakshan, Iran, Bihar, Gauda (Bengal), Kalinga (Odisha), South India, Gujarat, Malwa, Marwar and Sindh. He also broke the power of Arabs in Sindh. His victory was celebrated by people even after many centuries.
He built Parihaspur (City of Pleasure) as his capital near the shrine of Kheer-Bhawani. He also built many temples, one of these was the world famous Sun temple (Martand), built on Mattan Karewa. The other great ruler or this dynasty was Jayatida (grandson of Lalitapida) who was similar to Lalitapida and also a great patron of learning. Both of these rulers gave their patronage to Bhavabhuti, Vakpatrija, Udhata, Bhata, Damodhar Gupta, Manoratha, Sankhdanta, Samadhimat and many others.
After the death of Jayapida, the Kakrota dynasty gradually declined due to weak rulers. The conquered territories took advantage of this situation and regained their independence. Thus, the sovereignity of the Kashmir rulers was confined to Vitasta, (Jhelum) basin.
Kashmiri Shaivism
Kashmiri Shaivism flourished in Kashmir during 800 CE. It is a religious tradition that believes in basic ritual practices, patterns of meditation, chakrodaya and asanas.
The fundamental concept of Kashmir Shavism is unity of the soul with Lord Shiva who is the one, indivisible, absolute self and the highest reality.
The beginning of Kashmir Shaivism is marked by the ‘Shiva sutra’, which is a collection of seventy seven aphorism attributed to the Kashmiri sage Vasugupta. He lived near Mahadeva mountain in the valley of the Harvan stream. It is believed that Lord Shiva himself passed the knowledge of Shaivism to Vasugupta. Kashmir Shaivism has three main philosophies. These are Trika Shaivism, Spanda Shaivism and Pratyabigna Shaivism.
Literary Sources of Kashmiri Shaivism
Vasugupta passed on the knowledge of Kashmiri Shaivism to his disciples who later Wrote many literary works, such as:
- Spanda-Karika or Spanda-Sarvasya by Kallata, a disciple of Vasugupta
- Sivadrishti by Somananda, a disciple of Vasugupta
- Pratyabhigna-Sutra by Utpaladeva, a disciple of Sourauanda
- Paramartha-Sara, Pratyabhigna-Virnarsini and Tantraloka by Abhinavagupta
- Sivasutra-Vimarsini and Spanda Sandoha by Kshemaraja
Also, check: “Darbar Move,” a biannual relocation of government offices between Jammu and Srinagar was introduced by?