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The Advent Of Hinduism & Buddhism
As would be expected of a place where the trails and trading routes of
Asia meet, most of the religions of the world have vied for the beliefs of
the people of Kashmir. Buddhism and Hinduism reached Kashmir and Ladakh
very early in their spread across Asia and from the 9th to 12th centuries
AD, Kashmir was a prominent centre of Hindu culture. There are still many
Hindu holy sites and temples in Jammu and a
lesser number in Kashmir.
Buddhism
came to Kashmir as early as the 4th century BC and Ashoka built many
Buddhist states throughout the vale, a number of which were still standing
at the time of the great Chinese traveller Hiuan Tsang in the 7th century
AD. He recorded them in his diary. It is said that 'Nagarjuna', the monk
who was credited with bringing Buddhism to Ladakh, resided at the
monastery built near Harwan in
Srinagar in the
2nd century AD.
Impact Of Islam
By the 14th century Hinduism, after its period of major influence, had
been supplanted by Islam, which had come gradually to Kashmir. Sufi
teachers began to spread the religion in the 12th century with their
synthesis of Hindu thought in the form of 'Sufiism' and the 'Bhakti'
movement.
Due to Bulbul Shah, Shah Hamdan and other Sufi saints, Kashmir embraced
Islam before any Muslim king invaded it. Muslims now constitute about 90%
of the population of the valley and they are mostly of the 'Sunni' sect,
with a sprinkling of Shi'ite.
Christian missionaries came to the vale during the British period and
their influence continues to this day.
JESUS IN KASHMIR
Search out the Rauzabal or Prophet's Tomb in the oldest part of the city
while one is in Srinagar
and one will come across the final resting place of Jesus Christ - or so
the legend goes.
The Legend
Following his reappearance after the crucifixion Jesus fled from
Palestine, the Kashmir story relates, accompanied by his mother Mary and
the disciple Thomas. They passed in Damascus but eventually made their way
east to the sub continent where Mary died in Murree, near Rawalpindi in
present day Pakistan. Supposedly one can locate her tomb there too.
Jesus and Thomas continued on to Kashmir where Jesus settled in Yusmarg
while Thomas went to the south of India. Jesus is, of course, also one of
the great prophets of the Islamic faith and in Kashmir his name translates
as "Yus Asaf". So Yusmarg is the meadow of Jesus.
After marrying a Kashmiri girl from Pahalgam, Jesus lived out his life in
Kashmir, eventually dying aged 85 or more. There are numerous texts and
clues pointing, according to interested Kashmiris, to his life in Kashmir.
Even the Hemis Gompa in Ladakh is said to have evidence of a visit. And if
that's not enough one can also look for the tomb of Moses, he's buried in
Kashmir too!