CHASHM E SHAAHI , CHASHM E SAHIBI AND SAINT POETESS RUPA BHAWANI OF KASHMIR..

                                                                               

CHASHM E SHAAHI , CHASHM E SAHIBI AND SAINT POETESS RUPA BHAWANI.

Chashme shaahi ( Royal Spring ) is a fresh water spring inside the Chashm e shaahi Garden of Kashmir. The spring or chashma is the source of the beautiful fountains and artificial water falls inside this garden This beautiful terraced garden was laid by Mughal Governor Ali Mardan Khan in 1638 AD . Yes the same Ali Mardan Khan who wrote the Persian Shiv Leela ( Shanker Astuti ) “Shab Shaah e ki Munn Deedum ”

In case you go to Pari Mahal from chashme shaahi garden, You need to take a right turn near the gate and just hundred yards from the turn lies another unknown spring of fresh water known as chashm e sahibi. This spring is believed to have been discovered by a great female saint poetess of Kashmir known as Rupa Bhawani . Rupa Bhawani is believed to have been visiting this spring for meditation . A fresh water spring ,Some rooms , a temple in memory of this pious saint poetess and some tall shady chinars welcome you .

Rupa Bhawani (1681-1771 ) was daughter of Pandit Madhav joo Dhar of Khanqaah e Sokhta Safa Kadal Kashmir . This safa Kadal Clan of Dhars of Kashmir was known as Sahibi Dhars . For this reason this saint poetess is also known as ALAKH SAHIBA . She was married in Sapru family of Kashmir but her married life was unhappy . While living as an ascetic , she came in contact with a Muslim mystic, Shah Sadiq Qalandar, with whom she used to have long philosophical discussions.

. One finds the influence of kashmir Shaivism and Islamic Tassavuf in her poetic compositions . According to her, non-attachment and dissolution of 'self' or ego (fana of the Sufis) are the essentials of Realisation: I quote two Vaakh of this great saint poetess.

Selflessness is the sign of the selfless;

Bow down at the door of the selfless.

The selfless are of the highest authority,

The kings of the time and the wearers of the crest and crown.

I did not come on this earth as a seed,

To fall in the circle of births,

I am not the elements

Earth, water, fire, air and ether

I am beyond the primordial universal self and the individual self,

I am the Supreme Consciousness.

I visited chashm e sahibi shrine today. The gate was unguarded , unlocked and open to one and all . That is the tradition of shrines of Kashmir. The spring and the Autumn chinars were lonely..

(  Text and Photographs by Autar Mota )

Srinagar 8th november 2012… Time 11.55 PM good night .....................

PS

First two photographs are of chashme shaahi garden while the last three have been clicked inside chashme sahibi shrine nearby .

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.