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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
BUDDHISM IN KASHMIR
3 miles west of Gilgit, and small Buddhas and Buddhist relics have been found in Yasin.” This note testifies to the fact that Buddhism lingered in this part of Kashmir up to a very late date, and the geographical information presented above shows that the culture and beliefs of the ancient people of Kashmir were not very different from those of Gandhāra i.e. the present Rawalpindi, Taxila, Peshawar, etc., where Buddhism flourished in the early days, and that Buddhism may well be pointed out as one of the factors for linking the two peoples.
Introduction of Buddhism The earliest traditions relating to the introduction of Buddhism in Kashmir are preserved in the Ceylonese chronicle, the Mabāvamsal and the Tibetan Dul-va (=Vinaya Pițaka of the Sarvāstivādins). The former tells us that Moggaliputta Tissa, the religious adviser of Aśoka, sent missionaries to different countries. Majjhantika was deputed to Kasmira-Gandhāra. About the time of his arrival there Aravāla, king of the Nāgas, was destroying the ripe corns of the country by hail-storm. Majjhantika, on account of his miraculous powers, stood on the surface of the Aravāla lake unaffected by rain and storm. At this the Nāga king grew furious and sent forth storm and lightnings, and hurled stones and rocks at him but without any effect. Thus convinced of Majjhantika's great powers, the Nāga king with his followers submitted to him and listened to his discourses on the evils of anger and hatred. Pandaka Yakkha and Hāritā Yakkhiņi with their 500 children became his devotees and offered a jewel throne. When they were fanning him the residents of Kasmīra-Gandhāra came with their offerings for the Nāgas, but
Mahāvamsa, XII, 3. 2 Dul-va (A.S.B. xylograph), vol. XI, 684-690. 3 Apalāļa in Chinese rendering. See Watters, I, p. 229.
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