Sharada Peeth: Preserving India’s Ancient Intellectual And Spiritual Heritage In PoJK

Mohan Singh Dhangar (Researcher, Central University of Jammu)

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The sacred Sharada Peeth, situated at the confluence of the Kishanganga and Madhumati rivers in Jammu and Kashmir, is far more than a complex of ancient stone ruins.

It is the shining emblem of India’s ancient intellectual, spiritual and civilisational legacy. Even though it exists today as a forgotten ruin in PoJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir), its glory continues to shine brightly in our civilisational and intellectual consciousness.

The revered Sanskrit verses, “Salutations to you, Goddess Sharada, who resides in Kashmir. I pray to you every day; bless me with knowledge and wisdom,” celebrate the sanctity of this soil. Spiritually, as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where the right hand of Goddess Sati is believed to have fallen, it was considered the pinnacle of learning and spirituality.

An Internationally Renowned Centre of Ancient Learning

Sharada Peeth attained fame as an internationally renowned university in ancient times. The Sharada script originated and developed at this centre of learning. In the 7th century, the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang wrote extensively in praise of the high intellectual calibre of its resident scholars.

Adi Shankaracharya, the founder of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, attained the throne of omniscient knowledge at this sacred site after winning a scholarly debate there.

The scholar Acharya Ramanuja visited its great library to study foundational texts before writing his major commentaries.

The veneration of this holy site throughout India is evident from historical records showing that Siddharaja Jayasimha, the king of Gujarat, specially commissioned authoritative grammatical works from Sharada Peeth for his court.

Rajnath Singh Highlights the Spiritual Connection Between Shiv and Shakti

India’s Union Defence Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, further highlighted this historical and spiritual significance in his 2022 speech at an event in Jammu and Kashmir.

He pointed out India’s lack of civilisational continuity with the following words: “How is it possible that Baba Amarnath, who represents Shiv, is ours but Ma Sharada Peeth, which represents Shakti, lies beyond the LoC?” Sanatana philosophy emphasises the idea that Shiv is incomplete without Shakti.

Baba Amarnath (Shiv) and Ma Sharada (Shakti) must regain their geographical and cultural unity to restore the spiritual completeness of this region. This perspective also aligns with the Parliamentary Resolution passed on February 22, 1994.

Sharada Peeth: A Shared Heritage Beyond Geographical Boundaries

This sacred shrine transcends individual communities and geographical boundaries; it represents the collective civilisational heritage of the entire region.

The people residing in PoJK should remember that we share a common ancestry whose roots lie in this very sacred soil.

As part of this shared civilisational continuity, the people of PoJK are morally and spiritually bound to come forward and actively participate in preserving this precious heritage.

Just as the brutal massacre of 1947 separated this revered centre of learning from us and reduced it to ruins, the severe repression experienced by the local population of PoJK in recent months indicates that the brutality and oppressive nature of the Pakistani Army towards this region remain unchanged.

An authoritarian institution that cannot respect the rights of its own people cannot be expected to safeguard their rich heritage. Thus, the local population must come forward to protect its civilisational legacy and rights.

Only when the people of PoJK recognise their rich civilisational heritage and work together to preserve this cultural legacy will the dream of reunification of Shiv and Shakti and the restoration of cultural unity become a reality.

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