Sanskrit and Kashmir

Sanskrit is an all-India language.  All parts of this land have contributed to its ancient great literature, and none can claim a special place in this regard. Even so, the contribution from Kashmir over centuries is most remarkable—in quality and variety as well as value and volume. Once well known all over this country and beyond, it now deserves renewed notice, especially by Kashmiris themselves. Hence this brief note for Koshur Samachar.

One may begin with the perhaps Sanskritized names of four celebrated scholars from Kashmir: Kalhana, Bilhana, Shilhana and Jalhana. The first is possibly the best known at present.  He lived in 12th century Kashmir where he wrote the famous Rajataringini which has several modern translations, including one by RS Pandit. The original is a work of history, including earlier mythology but also Ashoka’s patronage of Buddhism, and the later Kusana kings.  From the 7th century onwards, it is mostly a factual record, also mentioning the help sent from Kashmir to the Afghan King Trilochanapala when he faced an invasion by Mahmud Ghazni. It is also recognized for its poetry.