EMPEROR AKBAR’S
VISIT TO KASHMIR
As per “Tarikh-e-Hassan”, Emperor Akbar entered the Kashmir
valley via Pakhil in the year 1586 AD. He came from the Rawalpindi side. This
was his first visit to Kashmir. He spent some days in Baramulla town which was
decorated like a bride. Later, the Mughals built a permanent route for travel
to Kashmir from Delhi or Lahore. This route passed through Gujrat (Punjab),
Kotla Arab Ali Khan, Bhimber, Jhangar, Nowshehra, Chingus, Rajouri, Thanamandi,
Surankot, Bafliaz, Noori Chamb, Chandimarh, Poshana, Pir ki Gali, Shopian,
Khanpora Sarai and Srinagar. They built more than three dozen Serais ( rest and
halting structures ) on this route that came to be known as Mughal Road. The
biggest Serai at Chingus near Rajouri is still erect.
Akbar is believed to have visited Kashmir three times although
many historians believe that he paid four visits to Kashmir. On one of his
visits, he ordered for creation of fencing around Hari Parbat fort. The new
city was fenced ( 5 km in circumference) with a high stone wall all around that
had three gates; Kathi Darwaza, Sangeen Darwaza and
Bachhi Darwaza.
All these entrances were erected with heavy stones. However, some additions,
alterations and renovations of the fort were later done during the period of
Afghan rule in Kashmir. On page 60 of the book "
Kashmir Through Ages " we
read this:-
"Akbar brought Raja
Todar Mal with him
to Kashmir. He fixed his camp at Pattan, measured the whole land around Hari
Parbat and settled the revenue. The labourers who were employed in the
construction of the new city were paid at the rate of six Annas a day if
married and four Annas if unmarried. He maintained an army of 4892 cavalry and
92400 infantry. He visited Kashmir three times. "
It is pertinent to mention that Raja Todar Mal, as finance
minister of Akbar, introduced a new system of revenue known as Zabt and a system of taxation called Dahshala. His revenue collection arrangement came to be
known as the ‘Todarmal's Bandobast’. He was one of the Navratnas in Akbar’s ‘Darbar’. The other eight Navratnas were
Raja Man Singh, Raja Birbal, Abul Fazal, Faizi, Mullah Do Piaza, Fakir Azizud
din, Abdul Rahim Khan e Khana and Tansen.
Tuzuk I Jahangiri mentions that the fort and the fencing around Hari Parbat
were got done as per orders of Emperor Akbar in 1598. R C
Kak writes this:-
Quote " The Kathi
Darwaza seems to have been the principal entrance, judging from the fact that
the inscriptions have been put up only here. It is a very simple structure,
comprising a domed chamber in the middle with two side recesses. Its only external
decorations are rectangular and arched panels and two beautiful medallions, in
high relief, on the spandrels of the arch. Akbar's inscription runs as follows:
Bina-e qila'-e Nagar-Nagar bud
Ba 'ahad-e padshah-e dad-gustar
Sar-e Shahan-i 'alam Shah Akbar
T'ali Shanahu Allah-u Akbar
Shahanshah-e ki dar 'alam misalash
Na bud ast-o na khwahad bud digar
Karor-o dah lakh az makhzan firistad
Du sad ustad Hindi jumla chakar
Na kardah hechkas bigar anja
Tamami yaftand az makhzanash zar
Chil-o char az julusi padshahi
Hazar-o shash zi tarikh-e payambar.
Translation: The foundation of the fort of Nagar-Nagar was laid
in the reign of the just sovereign, the king of kings, Akbar, unparalleled
among the kings of the world, past or future. He sent one crore and ten lakhs
(of rupees) from his treasury and two hundred Indian master builders, all his
servants. No one was forced to work without remuneration. All obtained their
wages from his treasury. (In the) forty-fourth year after the accession of the
Emperor (and) 1006 after the prophet."Unquote
There are two inscriptions on the top stones of Kathi Darwaza.
The other inscription gives the name of Mir Muhammad Hussain who supervised the
entire construction activity ordered by Akbar for this new city known as '
‘Naganagri '. The ‘Sangeen
Darwaza’, or "the
stone gate," differs from Kathi Darwaza in being more ornate. The exterior is
decorated by two corbelled windows, and there are two stairs, one on each side,
which give access to the roof. The ‘Bachhi
Darwaza’ has been
built new as the old entrance had crumbled down.
About ‘Naganagari’, the new township built by Akbar inside the Hari
Parbat fortification, Rajatarangini of Jonaraja mentions this:-
“ Then the illustrious Jylaldina sent his two servants who drove
away injustice from Kashmira as the sun and the moon drive away darkness from
the earth. They ascended the hill near Sharika in the neighbourhood of
Prvarapura, and there, under the orders of King Akvara ( Akbar ) built a fort
with the inappropriate name ‘Naganagari’ Men after performing various kinds of
religious austerities go to heaven in their second birth after death; but when
the people saw this Naganagari, they did not attempt to ascend to this heaven.
The King’s followers stayed in the new town, and any one of them who harassed
the people was made guilty of an offence. The Muggulas ( Mughals ), after King
Jyalaldina had thus ordered, lived in the new town. It was whitewashed with
lime and was situated on the Sharika hill, and it looked as if it jeered at the
old capital in its neighbourhood .”
Emperor Akbar also visited Martand Teertha in Kashmir. He came
to the Teertha with his trusted Hindu courtiers which included Ram Das, the
well-known miniature artist in the Mughal court. Akbar respected him and
brought him to Kashmir along with him. Ram Das painted illustrations for
Emperor's biography or Akbar-Nama. The Rajatarngini of Jonaraja was updated up to the 16th century by Shrivarara,
Prajyabhatta and Shuka mentions
this visit as under:-
“ He came from the city of Lahora( Lahore ) to see the country.
On the fifth bright lunar day of Ashaadha, he arrived with his army in the
capital of Kashmira.On the seventh bright lunar day of that month, he pleased
the Brahmin boys with gifts of gold and they blessed him. He then went to
Martanda ( Mattan Teertha ) and gave cows adorned with pearls and gold to
Brahmins. Jaylalldina ( Emperor Akbar ) was a great benefactor of the Brahmins.
Truly a Vikramaditya, Ram Dasa, his servant gave one hundred pieces of silver and
also pieces of gold to every house of Brahmin. He also distributed fifty
thousand pieces of silver among poor Brahmins. The emperor then ordered
Shikhaphaija to take one thousand pieces of silver and distribute it among
Brahmins and beggars who dwelt in villages and woods respectively with various
kinds of flowers. He was glad to see Kashmira with its vines, walnut trees, and
high and charming woods of Tali trees. He stood on the banks of the Vitasta and
saw the position of the city and was greatly astonished. He saw the tank near
Jyeshthrudra ( Zeethyor presently ) adorned with various kinds of flowers, and
was greatly surprised. Even Yakobha ( Yakoob Chak ) came to the feet of
Jyalaldina ( Emperor Akbar ), by whose shoes, Yakobha’s head was hallowed. The
king made him an attendant of Mansimha ( Raja Man Singh ) ”
Emperor Akbar is believed to have camped at Nagbal in Mattan
town for a night’s halt. At this spot, one can see a Gurdwara at present. At
this spot, Guru Nanak Dev had also addressed a large gathering of Brahmins under
the shady Chinars. He also had a discourse with Pandit Brahm Dass who belonged
to the Datt family of Mattan. Later, Pandit
Kripa Ram Datt from
this family headed a delegation of 500
Kashmiri Brahmins to
Amritsar and thence to Anandpur to meet Guru
Teg Bahadur during
the dark days of Afghan rule in Kashmir.
There are two temples in Mattan. The first is the spring temple
in the town where Shraadha is performed. The water of the spring gushes out and
comes to a bigger pond with fish. No Kashmiri would eat fish from this sacred
pond. People from North India would perform Shraadha at this spring. Like
Haridwar, Varanasi and Nasik, the local Purohits maintained a Bahi or written
record of their Yejmaans ( patrons). There is another temple ( in ruins at
present ) up above the hill. It is just 2 km from Mattan town. Located on the
Ranbirpora plateau, this world-famous Martanda Sun Temple was built by the
illustrious King Lalitaditya of Kashmir in the 8th century. It is in ruins at
present but listed as a
‘Heritage Monument’ by UNESCO. This
grand temple faced demolition
during the rule of Sultan Sikander Butshikan.
About Ram Das, the miniature artist who accompanied Emperor Akbar
during his visit to Kashmir, Rajatarangini of Jonaraja
mentions this:-
“Ram Dasa, who always served Jylaldina ( Emperor Akbar ) was a
great benefactor of Brahmins. This celebrated person saw their condition and
gave them gifts of gold and silver, and he was like a second Karna. Nirmmala
and all other Brahmins well versed in Vedas and the Pandits blessed him. On
another day, Prahlada, Nirmmala and all others were honoured by the speech of
the King ( Ram Das ) which was as sweet as nectar. Even the illustrious
Jyalaldina was gladdened to see the Brahmans being recommended to him by Ram
Dasa. The emperor bestowed villages on the Brahmans and they looked graceful,
even as the forest, which had been burnt by fire, does when the clouds begin to
rain.Jyalaldina( Akbar ) was himself a sea of kindness, and he satisfied the
mendicants with his gifts of gold and silver. "
ABOLITION OF JAZIYA LEVIED ON KASHMIRI BRAHMINS BY EMPEROR AKBAR
When told about the levying of the same on Hindus by the
Chak rulers of Kashmir, Emperor Akbar gave orders for its immediate abolition.
Rajatarangini of Jonaraja mentions this :-
“ Formerly the kings of the house of Chakka used to exact an
annual fine from the Brahmans, owing to their animosity towards the people of
that caste. In every house, a Brahman of good family and character, who
maintained his caste, used to pay an annual tribute to the King ( Chak ). For
the preservation of his sacred thread, a Brahmana annually paid a tribute of
forty panas to the king. The good Brahmanas had left the country which was
polluted by the Maleechchhas; those of the middle class had become shameless
and the low Brahmanas had given up their caste. When the Mlechchhas remained'
like Clouds in the country, and obscured it, the Brahmanas went to other
countries, even like swans that go to the Manasa lake. Now when king
Jyalaldilna learnt of the condition of the Brahmanas, he repealed the practice
of levying fines on them, which had prevailed since the time of the Kings of
the house of Chakka. He announced that he would without delay reward those who
would respect the Brahmanas in Kashmira; and that he would instantly pull down
the houses of those who would take the annual tribute from them. The Brahmans,
versed in the Vedas, whose fear of the payment of an annual tribute was removed
by this order, blessed the king, saying, that let king Jyalaldina who had
repealed the annual tribute live for 10,000,000,000 years. One thousand cows
used to be killed every day, without any opposition, under the orders of the
kings of the house of Chakka( Chak), and for them. The Brahmanas had been
overpowered by the Mlechchhas, even as by darkness. They were unable to see
their friends, and like lotuses, they mourned at night. The means of their
livelihood were consumed by the Mlechchhas who were even like the forest fire;
they did not remain in the country, even as deer do not stay in the forest
which is burnt. As they left the country, they sometimes, like jackals, felt
alarm in the way, and sometimes they were the objects of laughter
and reproach. ”
( Avtar Mota )
CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
