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JAINISM IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE (J & K STATE)
Srimatyambel Namaste Bhagavati! Varade! Sharadal...
The local people calls the deity as Sarada or Sardi devi, as sapronouns Ha in local dilact, therefore the name turns to 'Haradi' which later on became 'Hari' and the hills is Hari Parbata.
Kalhana calls this Tirtha as a 'PAPASUDANA' (The Jaina term). The water of the stream never freezes in the chilled cold. The journey to this tirtha Gango-Bheda was very tough so people were reluctant to go. Afterwards ALBERUNI counted the same in chief sacred tirthas in India (The others were Sun idol of Multan, Cakra at Thanesvara and Sivlinga at Somnath). Then again Sarda abode came in lime light.
About the miracle at Saktipitha in Kasmir is noted by Abul Fazal in 'Ayane Akabari' that on every eight tithi of the bright half of the month it begins to shake and produce extra ordinary effect. Here gold is found in the river Kisanganga. According to author, the place of Sri is adored by full devotion and faith by devotees.
The poet called this tirtha as Sarda shrine or Sarda-mandal considers very precious in medieval period too. Many Jaina seers had meditated here in past, even Upadyaya Yashovijaya wanted to go to adore the deity but Ma Sarasvati appeared on the bank of Ganga and blessed him to prepare the scriptures.
Another reference of kasmir is available in Prabhavaka-caritra in relation with Kalikal Sarvajna Hemachandracarya. The Caritra book refers that once king Jayasimha asked Acarya to compose a new grammar. Acaryaji informed them that it is possible only after bringing the Manuscripts of old eight grammar books constituted by great scholars available at Kasmira's Sarada-Saktipitha. The king Jayasimha sent high officials to kasmira/Pravarpura. They meditated there and pleased the deity. The goddess appeared and commended her attendants to convey the desired literature to her devotee Hemacandra through the learned scholars. Siddharaj Jayasimha's envoys brought all Manuscripts to Patan. Then Acarya Hemcandra composed his own great grammar Siddha-hem-shabdanushasana with Ma Sharda's blessings. This legend is even discussed by Prof.
Bulhar in Vienna. He noted that Sri Hemcandracarya had knowledge about the availability of famous books of great grammarians at Siddhapitha in Kashmira.
We know that author of Ashtadhyayi Vyakrana, Panini was from Kasmira. A Tika of the same 'Kasikartika' jointly authored by Vamana and Jayadipa were Kashmiri grammerians. The many commentators on various old grammars were Kasmirans. Besides Paninian school of grammar, other schools- Candra and the Katantra were also contributed by Kasmirians.
About Jainism in Kasmira, the author, Ksemendra of folk tales "Brhat Katha Manjari"- was a Jaina Sravaka from kasmira flourished a hundred years before Kalhana. The work Brahat Katha is divided into eighteen chapters called Lambakas with its further divisions in Gucchas. His other work Nripavali contains the stories of kings was referred by Kalhana before writing 'Rajatarangini'. He also consulted ten other works which are not available now. The author of 'Katha-saritasagara' Somdeva was from Kasmira. The katha has 21388 stanzas divided in 18 Books called Lambakas spread into 124 chapters called Taranagas.
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