TWO VIEWS NEAR GANDERBAL KASHMIR AND SOMETHING ABOUT BARK OF BIRCH TREE ( BURZAA)

      
Near Ganderbal kashmir 
October 2011    
  Photo Autar Mota                                                                             

I have come across a wonderful aspect of kashmirian society . This possibly relates to the period of 3rd centaury and continued till 11th centaury . I read it in a journal. I had my doubts . But after carefully going through Rajtaringini, all misconceptions have been cleared . I am indebted to kalhana . .

In Kashmir, any person who renounced worldly life would put on clothes made of bark of birch tree . A man who wore such clothes was supposed to have taken up religious or other pursuits cutting his connections with the society at large . Birch bark was quite popular in Kashmir and was also used as a substitute for paper even upto 19th centaury . I quote kalhana

“The cave residences were illuminated by iridescence of the crest jewels of numerous wandering holy men , drowsy with murmurs of breeze caught in their garments of Birch bark.”

( Canto 165 Page 65 IInd Taranga Rajatarangini of kalhana Translated by R S Pandit )

It now stands clarified to me as to what some elders meant when they would say

“Kyaa Saa Ammei Maa Voall Burzaa ”

“ What happened ? Has he worn garments made of of Bark of Birch tree ?”

( Autar Mota) 


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