Evolution of Shaivaite Philosophic Tradition during Early Medieval Kashmir

Abstract

Kashmir is known to the world as one of the most beautiful places of the world and an ideal place for the lovers of beauty and nature. The picturesque range of mountains with lofty snowcaps, the gushing sound of burbling stream along with its beautiful green pastures captivates the mind of any person irrespective of his taste in nature and aesthetics. But Kashmir in the past along with its scenic grandeur was also known to be as the great centre of art and learning. It was considered to be as the hub of learning and such was its hold as intellectual centre that poets from all over the country used to come in Sharada temple with their work in order to get blessings for their work and not only this, Bana in Harshacharita mentions that in the temple of Devi Sharada people used to keep their books for a night and next day if there were any mistakes in the work Devi Sharada used to reveal these mistakes to the poet and he used to rectify it. The story in itself is a testimony regarding the fact of Kashmir being the center-piece of literary studies. Kashmir was a literary hub during the early medieval period and we find enormous writings produced in this period by the authors like Bhamaha, Vamana, Ruyyaka, Kshemagupta, Kshemendra, Abhinavagupta and who can forget Kalhana who has written the first systematical historical work ever produced in India, i.e, Rajatarangini.