ANCIENT HISTORY OF J&K

CHAPTER-1

ANCIENT HISTORY OF J&K (300 BC - 855AD) 

The ancient history of J&K as collection of various important sources-like:- literary texts, archeological artifacts, historical monuments etc. The chronological order varies from text to text & book to book , but the most common timeline is from 300 BC, the historic era that witnesses the emergence of many empires & ancient period ends nearly in 855 AD.

1.1)Prominent sources of History of J&K are:-

Nilmata Purana( compiled c. 500.600 CE) by Nila the lord of Kahmir Nagas
Rajatarangini ( River of Kings) by Pt. Kalhana , all the 8000 sanskrit verses of which were compiled by 1150 CE. Later on, it was translated by Sultan Zain -ul-Abidin  into persian by Mulla Ahmed.
Hara Charitrachintamani :- by Jayadrath
Twarikh-i-kashmir:- by Malik Haider
Zafar Nama:- Shrif -ud-din-Yazdi
Vansanucharita sections of Puranas Ashtadhyayi by Panini
Tarikh-i-kishtwar:- by Sheoji Dhar

Travellers account:- 

Chinese traveller-

Huien Tsang( 631 AD) refer Kashmir as Kashi-Mi-Lo

Ou-Kong 

European traveller

Father Jerome visited Kashmir with Akbar

Francis Bernier visited with Aurangzeb

Sir Walter Lawrence:- valley of Kashmir

Alexander Cunningham:- Land of Lamas

1.2)Early  historic Account of J&K :-

J&K early  historic account is divided into three ages as followed :-

Pre-Historic Age
Neolithic Age
Megalithic Age

1.2A:-The Pre-Historic Age :- 

Dr Sunil Chandra ray, the valley has faced Quarternary glacial cycles as evident from lacusterine deposits of Karewas . It is divided into two groups:- 

The lower karewas is of Pleistocene age & 

The upper karewas of the Inter-glacial Age 

Numismatic evidence in the shape of ancient coins of gold, copper, silver , brass( copper+ zinc)  & Bronze (Copper + tin) etc furnish evidence of a chain of kings, as mentioned by Kalhana & other chronologists upto modern time.

1.2B:-The Neolithic age:-

In neolithic age, we have many evidences- from Neolithic sites like- Burzahom(srinagar) -seeds of wheat , barley & lentils have been found , mud plastered pit dwellings , coarse pottery & stone tools are prominent artifacts of Burzahom. 

copper metal  tools were invented. 

Neolithic Skull with hole dug into it confirmed that may be surgery was practiced, also found at Burzahom. 

Burzahom is the first & early archaeological site of country 

Needles , harpoons, hunting tools are some of important inventions of neolithic age.  

other  sites were Bagagund, Hariparigoan, pampur, Panzgom, Sombur, Gofkral, olchibag, waztal & Brah 

1.2C:-The Megalithic age:-

It was age with erected massive stones or menhirs whic were a symbol of natable events of the community. important discoveries- mudbrick structures, pottery( red ware) tools of metal , stones & bones. 

1.3:-Ancient empires of J&K :-

Although the early empires account of ancient history of J&K remain quite uncertain , yet we here make it sublime for your exam point of view:-

Prior to below kingdom or empires- earliest was Mahabharata period :- wherein Republican of state Kamjos ruler with capital Rajapura(Rajouri modern ).

After them it went went to Panchala - now term is dessicated to Pir Panjal .

 

1. Mauryan empire:- 2. Kushan dynasty3. Hepthlites Huns( white Huns) 4. Gonanda dynasty   5. Karakota dynasty 

• Mauryan Empire :-3rd century BC :-

Ashoka(304-232 BCE) > Jaluka> Damodra II 

Askoka founded city of Srinagari ( Pandrethan , old city of Srinagar) . Built stupas, viharas,  shiva temples, shrines etc. Ashoka appointed Buddhist missionary( Majjhantika & Urvasa)  to spread Buddhism in Kashmir

Jaluka ( son of Ashoka) defeated the Malecchas( foreign tribes)& restored peace in the valley. 

Damodra II( S/O Jaluka) an ardent believer of shiva ruled kashmir. 

-a gap of about 200 years for which Indo-Greek kings before the start of Kushans rule in kashmir. This gap is uncountable in history. 

• Kushans dynasty :-Ist Century AD - Turkish people

Kushans came after Mauryans & they have again three rulers:- ( Mentioned in Nilmata Purana ) 

Kanishka (127-151 CE) > Hushak > Jushik upto 178 A.D

Kanishka was prominent among Kushans - during the reign of Kanishka -4th Buddhist council was convened at Kunalvana(Harwan) in Kashmir, headed by Vasumitra. Ashvaghosa & Nagarjuna participated in the council. In this council- Buddhism divided into two sects- Hinayana & Mahayana

Kanishka established a town of Kansihkapura 

Hushak estabilshed a town of Hushkapura

Jushik established a town of Jushkapura 

• Hepthalites (white Huns) 5-6Th century -from central Asia 

Toramana> Mihirakula

Hepthalites under Toramana crossed over the Hind Kush mountains &  conquered large part of western India including Kashmir.

Mihirakula ( c. 502-530 CE) son of Toramana , conquered all North India including Kashmir. He was opposed & defeated by Baladitya in Magadha & Yasodharman in Malwa respectively. After the defeat , Mihirakula returned to kashmir where he led coup on the king. He then conquered Gandhara. He destroyed Buddhist shrines & committed atrocities. After his death, the influence of Huns faded away & came to  end.

• Gonanda dynasty :-( 530 AD - 627 AD ) 

There were many rulers of Gonanda dynastry-here we mention a few ones. Gonanda records are mentioned by Kalhana in the Rajatrangini. 

Gonanda-I was first king of kashmir 

Pravarasena II was a great ruler who extended the boundaries & founded Pravarasenapura( modern city of Srinagar)  

Meghavahana- another ruler who banned the hunting of birds & animals during his reign 

others - Ramaditya & Baladitya. Baladitya was last ruler of Gonanda & Ramaditya was second last ruler of Gonanda dynasty.

• Karakota dynasty or Naga Dynasty  :- (627 AD -854 AD) 

Durlaba vardhana was first ruler of Karakota or naga dynasty which ruled upto 854 AD .

 Durlabha  Vardhana (627-661 AD)> Pratap aditya > Chandrapide> Tarapida> Lalit aditya Muktapida( known as Samundragupta of Kashmir ) > Jayapida> Lalitapida> Sangramapida( ends in 854AD ) 

Chinese pilgrim , Huein Tsang visited kashmir( during reign of Durlaba vardhana)  & stayed for 2 years & studied sanskirit & hindu scriptures from learned scholars. 

Lalit aditya muktapida ( samundragupta of kashmir ) - he conquered many areas- Punjab, Kannauj,Tibet, ladakh, Iran, Bihar, Kalinga, Gujarat, Malwa, sindh etc. He was the greatest Karakota ruler

He Built:- Parihaspur( city of pleasure) as his Capital near shrine of Kheer -Bhawani. He built World famous Temple -Martand temple(Sun temple) built on Mattan Karewa. After his demise the kingdom declined due to weak ruler & finally collapsed in 854 AD.

1.4):-KASHMIRI SHAIVISM :-

It was well flourished at the end of ancient history dated in 800 CE. It is basically a religious tradition that believes in ritual practices, asans, yoga & meditation etc. It was conceptualized as unity of soul with lord Shiva- the omnipotent & omnipresent lord. 

in beginning it was marked by the "Shivasutra" ( a collection of 77 aphorism attributed to Kashmiri sage Vasugupta). Kashmiri shaivism started by Vasugupta. It is believed that Lord Shiva himself passed the knowledge of Shaivism to Vasugupta who lived in Mahadeva Mts. in valley of the Harwan stream. Shaivism has three philopshies- Trika Shaivism , Spanda Shaivism & Pratyabigna Shaivism 

Value the time

Sources of Shaivism :-

It was Vasugupta who passed knowledge to his disciples  &  who in turn  passed on to next 

Spanda-Karika or Spanda-Sarvasya- by Kallate

Pratyabigna-Sutra- by Utpaladeva

Sivasutra-Vimarsini & spanda sandola- by Kshmemaraja

Paramartha-Sara,  Tantraloka & Pratyabigna-Viranarsini- by Abhinavagupta

Sivadrishti - by Somananda