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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
44
BUDDHISM IN KASHMIR
Abhidharmikas. The Vibhāṣās might have been expository commentaries in a general form, but it must be admitted that these texts dealt more with Abhidharma topics than with comments on the sūtras. The Abhidharma texts of the Sarvāstivādins, a gist of which has come down to us in the masterly treatise of Vasubandhu, the Abbidharma Kośa and Bhāsya and its tikā written by a Kashmirian prince Yaśomitra reveal what a large amount of contributions of a subtle character had been made to the Indian stock of knowledge relating to the analysis of mental states of a Yogin. The appearance of the Ātmaka theorists, the Vātsiputriyas, is also associated with Kashmir, showing thereby the large amount of latitude allowed by the country for philosophical discussions and expressions of new thoughts. Still more remarkable is the harmonious existence of Buddhism and Sivaism side by side without acrimonies and persecution. These existed together in many outlands, and their existence in Kashmir is another such instance. The kings themselves showed their veneration to Siva, Buddha and even Visnu all together by erecting temples dedicated to the three deities, and even allowing their queens and ministers perfect freedom in the expression of their veneration to any one of the three deities. One king might have had more than one queen or minister, belonging to different nationalities, professing different faiths; and it was not unoften the case that the king acceded to the wishes of their queens and ministers of different religious leanings by endowing temples for all the three prevailing faiths. It is evident from the traditional history sketched above that from the time of Aśoka up till the 12th century Buddhism existed side by side with Sivaism and Vişnuism and enjoyed glorious periods at intervals. The credit of Kashmir lies not only in its being a cultural centre for Buddhistic studies but also in being a centre for the dissemination of Buddhist and Hindu cultures in countries abroad. In ancient days
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