Sharda Peeth: The Lost University of Ancient Kashmir

The word "Sharda" in Sanskrit denotes both Goddess "Saraswati", and Goddess "Durga". The Kashmiri Pundits, all of whom are Saraswat Brahmins, revere this Goddess Sharda as a symbol of their wisdom and strength. Hence also the name of the village "Shardi" situated at a height of about 3400 metres from the sea level and that lies in between Gurej and Karnah: the two places in what has now been named as Neelam valley in the Pakistan Occupied part of Kashmir. One can reach "Shardi" in about four hours from Muzaffarbad. Since old times, the village "Shardi" was renowned for the temple of Goddess Sharda, and Sharda Peetham or the Centre for Advanced Learning, in modern parlance. At Shardi, the remains of the temple and the University (if one may call it so) can still be seen. In fact, it is stated that just before the partition, an annual fair used to be held at village Shardi on the eighth day of the Shukla Paksha, of Bhadrapada, when devotees from all over India would flock to the place in thousands, for receiving the blessings of Maa Sharada. 

Additionally, the area around the "Sharada Mandir" has many ancient temples. Cities such as Pattan, and Shrinagar were centres of learning, and were the locations of monasteries that were centers for study, debate and discipleship to the great sages, who abided there. Alberuni cites reference to three temples: 1) The "Sharda Mandir," 2) "Som Nath" (the temple of god Shiva as the universal and eternal reality), and 3) "The Sun Temple" (the temple of god Vishnu as the universal and eternal reality). All of these temples were major landmarks in the area, and attracted large numbers of pilgrims who visited them during their pilgrimage (tirtha) to "Sharda Mandir." It is commonplace in Kashmir to have many temples that are situated between the sacred sites. You will see temples dedicated to each of the gods (Shiva, Vishnu, and Sharda) throughout the region. The area surrounding the temple of "Sharda" has been referred to as the "Land of the Gods."

Bilhan, a renowned writer who lived during part of the 11th Century, also referenced "Sharada Teerath" - an important pilgrimage site to the Goddess "Sharda". Although living in the south of India for many years, Bilhan devoted all his literary achievements to the goddess. Historian Jon Raja made mention of the visit of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin (of Kashmir) to this site in A.D. 1422. The place is also noted by Abul Fazal, who describes the stunning stone-carved temple of Sharda on the shores of the river Madhumti (Krishna Ganga) and how gold and other precious materials have frequently been discovered in the river and its basin. Each month, on the 8th day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) period, a fair is held at this site. Once an eminent place of study and education led by Kashmiri Pandits, Sharda Peetham also served as a significant center of Buddhist and later Hindu activities, while being the origin of the Sharda script and Takri (the parent of Gurmukhi). 

Between 1088 A.D. and 1172 A.D., an erudite, Shri Hemchandra had completed his "Prabhav Karta" a voluminous treatise under the auspices and patronage of King "Jay Singh" of Gujarat. He was required to compile a volume on "Grammar". So, King Jay Singh deputed his representative to Kashmir, and made available to Shri Hemchandra a manuscript on the subject of grammar, from the Library of Sharda Peetham. This enabled Hemchandra to complete his treatise called the Siddhahema. This amply proves how the name and fame of the library of "Sharda Peetham" was known in ancient India and how abounding was the Library of "Sharda Peetham". The Vaishnava saint Swami Ramanuja traveled all the way from Srirangam to refer to Bodhayana's vritti on Brajma Sutras preserved here, before commencing work on writing his commentary on the Brahma sutras, the Sri Bhasya The image at Shringeri Sharadamba temple made of sandalwood, is supposed to have been taken by the Shankaracharya from here. After the Mughals, the Dogra regime assumed power in Kashmir and the then Collector of Muzaffarabad, Col. Gundu, repaired the temple and provided a new ceiling made of wood. He got fixed an annuity for the priest of the temple, under the orders of Maharaja Gulab Singh. 

Prior to the 1947 partition, many Kashmiri Pundit families were settled in "Shardi". Those professing as priests and traders had their shops and establishments in the near vicinity of the Sharda Teerath. Besides, it was home to many saints, ascetics and their associates/disciples and their servants. Sadly the glory of Sharda Peetham was lost to fundamentalists and terrorists, who ruthlessly ravaged its heritage. Burning of books and manuscripts and looting of cultural heritage apart, even the Buddhist centres of learning were burnt and razed to the ground. On the total destruction of treasure-trove of books by vandals led by Sikander Butshikn, Jia Lal Kilam writes thus: "Even in their miserable plight they (Pandits) did not forget their rich treasures which linked them with their past. They felt that they were custodians of their past cultural heritage-the illuminating treatises on the stupendous Shaiva philosophy and other great works on literature, art, music, grammar, and medicine-works which have excited the wonder of an admiring world and wherever they went they carried these treasures with themselves. Judging from the depth of thought displayed in these works that have been preserved, their high literary merit, their insight into the depth of nature, their poetical flights, their emotional devour coupled with an incisive logical treatment of the subjects dealt with in them, one can easily imagine the colossal loss the world has been subjected to by the acts of vandalism which resulted in the destruction of hundreds of works which contained the labours of more than two thousand years."  It is high time that on the pattern of ancient Nalanda University, the Government of India takes up with the Government of Pakistan, the revival of this ancient seat of learning, to highlight lofty ideals of Hinduism like "Sarvadharma Sambhav" against the terrorism of its own creation, if only to save itself from the scourge it has plunged itself into.