Roots and Reflections - Exploring Ideas, Experiences and Wisdom

  Dr. Ved Kumari Gai was a scholar, professor, intellectual, social activist and was held in high esteem in Jammu. She was a reputed Sanskrit professor and great scholar. She was also well versed in Hindi as well as Dogri languages. Ved Kumari Gai was a literary figure of Jammu and Kashmir & his contribution to Sanskrit language, literature and society was well recognised. Ghai was born on 16th December 1931, in Partap Garh Mohallah, Jammu. She completed her school education in Jammu and passed Masters degree in Sanskrit from Punjab university in 1953 and MA in Ancient History and Culture in 1958 & then PhD in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1960.  Dr. Ved Kumari Gai was an acclaimed professor and scholar of Sanskrit and she had the distinction of having been the privilege of presiding the literary, social and religious functions. She was involved in literary and social services throughout his life. Basically she was appointed as a professor of Sanskrit...

  Raksha Bandhan is a popular and traditionally Hindu annual rite or ceremony that is central to a festival of the same name celebrated in South Asia. It is also celebrated in other parts of the world significantly influenced by Hindu culture. It is one of the important festival of Hindus and in Santan Dharma its significance cannot be exaggerated. On this day, sisters of all ages tie a talisman or amulet called Rakhi around the wrists of their brothers. They symbolically protect them, receive a gift in return and traditionally invest the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care. Raksha Bandhan is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August. The expression Raksha Bandhan (Sanskrit, literally ‘the bond of protection, obligation and care) is now principally applied to this ritual. So this festival is the bond of love, affection and protection between the brothers and sisters and has an important p...

                 (Image Courtesy: Internet) Kashmir is the land of saints, seers, faquirs, godly men and has been the place where there are shrines, mosques, temples and Gurudwras in plenitude. It has been a place where religion and spirituality flourished from time to time. The people of Kashmir are mostly of religious bent of mind and there have been the shrines housing saints and Faquirs. One of the reputed and famous shrines is Syed Simaan in Kulgam and it is said that the name Kulgam has been invented and given by Syed Simnan and before this name Kulgam was known as Shampora. Syed Simnani came from place known as Simnan in Iran and Syed Simnan came to Kashmir along with many Syeds who came with the arrival of world famous saint Shah Hamdan who is credited with the spread of Islam in Kashmir. Syed Simnan was an 6th century sufi saint who blended Islamic tenets with, sufi traditions and it was he who emphasized the unity of man and gave st...

In good old days the Kashmiri society was familiar and accustomed to traditional fire stove called in Kashmiri parlance as Daan.It was then found in every kashmiri household and the womenfolk generally used to cooking on the dan and Kashmiris' were familiar with the Daan. Firstly Daan was used to cook variety of foods and cuisines and it also was used for the purpose of warmth and thus the secondary use of the Daan was providing heat during the severe and harsh winters.In Kashmiri households members of the household and especially the children used to assemble near Dan and enjoyed sipping nun chai and it was an everyday experience. But with the advancement in science and technology new and ever new tools for cooking food were invented and Kashmiri's like other people of other parts of India used stove, and then gas stove to cook food and with the advent of moder means of cooking ,the traditional Daan has almost disappeared from Kashmiri society and milieu and it is a matter of ...

           " Yus Kari Gangul suy Kari Kraav" By Gangul is meant traditional /conventional Kashmiri agricultural practice as well as celebration that is the beginning of cropping season. It symbolizes hope, expectation and commencement of sowing and is associated with agricultural farming. It is somewhat disappearing from the rural farming practices but efforts are a foot to revive this traditional agriculture practice. In the context of rural farming Gangul can be put forth as it signifies start of the sowing season. Traditionally it marks the start of the farming season, when farmers begin tilling the land and sowing seeds. It symbolises and reflects hope forb a bountiful harvest and community unity and respect for the rhythms of nature. A ritual connected with gangul is the distribution of walnuts to children which signifies abundance and prosperity. The essence of Gangul is totally reflected in the couplet of Hazrat Alamdar-e-Kashmir "Yus Kari Gangul, Su...

Swami Laxman Joo was a great scholar of Shaivism and a mystic saint of imminence and repute. He was a household name in Jammu and Kashmir and even the late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi used to visit this saint for seeking his blessings.Swami Laxman Joo was born on 9 May 1907 and his original name was Laxman Raina.His followers call him Lal Sahib. He was born in Srinagar. This saint of repute passed away on 27 September 1991 at the age of 84 years. His Ashrams are spreads at several places across the country and here at Jammu his Ashram is situated at Mohinder Nagar near Canal Road Jammu and his followers frequently visit his Ashram and on his birth anniversary and death anniversary Yagya is solemnised and a large number of people take part in the Yagya and partake prasad. The original Ashram of Swami Laxman Joo is situated at Ishber Nishat Srinagar Kashmir. He was born in a Kashmiri Hindu Brahmin family in Srinagar city in Kashmir. His mothers name was Arnymali Raina. It is said t...