Saturday, February 27, 2021

KASHMIR MINT...COINS ISSUED BY HINDU QUEENS OF KASHMIR.



         

KASHMIR MINT...COINS  ISSUED  BY HINDU QUEENS  OF KASHMIR.



(1)

Queen Didda


                                      


             

(bronze and copper coins issued by Queen Didda of Kashmir. Sharda script is distinctly visible in these coins.)

Didda’s (r 958-1003CE) rule represents the peak of women’s power in Kashmir.Didda was the daughter of Simharaja, of the Lohara dynasty (1003 CE – 1320 CE) which ruled some of the hilly principalities south of Poonch in present-day Jammu and Kashmir.

At the age of 26, Didda was married to Kshemagupta who became the ruler after the death of his father in 950 CE. He  was a weak king given to  drinking, gambling and hunting. As a result, the task of ruling the kingdom fell into the hands of his wife, Queen Didda.

Queen Didda was a firm ruler and administered  the kingdom in her own style. She is built many temples in the  memory of her son and her husband. According to Kalhana , she constructed more than  64 temples . A prominent  Shiva temple in Srinagar, called Diddara Math was named after her. The   temple does not exist at present but the locality is still known as Diddamar. 

Aurel Stein writes:-
“The statesmanlike instinct and political ability which we must ascribe to Didda in spite of all the defects of her character, are attested by the fact that she remained to the last in peaceful possession of the Kashmir throne, and was able to bequeath it to her family in undisputed possession.”

Queen Didda never yielded to the bridles of patriarchy and lived a full and fulfilling life, as a liberated and independent woman, as well as a sovereign. She ruled over Kashmir for 22 years and died in 1003CE.

(2)

Queen Sugandha


                               




                                     

(copper and bronze  coins of Queen Sugandha.Sharda script is distinctly visible in these coins )


While going to Baramulla from Srinagar city, one comes across two stone temples in ruined state near Pattan..  Known as Sugandesh and Shankar Gaurisa ,these temples were built by King Shankarvarman of Utpala dynasty of Kashmir.  Sugandha was  married to King  Shankaravarman  . Shankarvarman succeeded his illustrious father, Avantivarman in A.D. 883. 

On Shankaravarman’s untimely death, Sugandha Devi ,his queen displayed great courage by  concealing the fact of his death till she was ready to take on the guardianship of their minor  son, Gopalavarman, and rule the kingdom as a regent.

She proved a powerful ruler who crushed some revolts and many a court intrigues. 

Sugandha’s copper  coinage is an important corroborative evidence of her power and refers to her by the masculine epithet Sri Sugandha Deva. Goddess Lakshmi is seen in most of the coins relating to the rule of Sugandha Rani..

(Avtar Mota)


PST

The earliest known records of the Sharada characters are the coins of the Utpala dynasty of Kashmir (9th century CE) and a brief record carved on the fragment of a broken jar discovered from the precincts of the Avantiswamin temple and containing the name of Avantivarman, (855-883 CE) the founder of the temple. 


Creative Commons License
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\.

NATYASHASTRA AND SHILPSHASTRA IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL KASHMIR SCULPTURES.



                                            


SAMABHANGA ,  ABHANGA, DVIBHANGA, TRIBHANGA AND ATIBHANGA  IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL KASHMIR SCULPTURES.....

(Photo... Avantipora sculpture)

SAMABHANGA ,  ABHANGA, DVIBHANGA, TRIBHANGA AND ATIBHANGA  IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL KASHMIR SCULPTURES.....

(Photo... Avantipora sculpture)

 In the standing posture, many sculptures from  Kashmir depict Samabhanga ( standing posture without bends ) ,Abhanga ( standing with one bend )  and Tribhanga ( standing posture with three bends ) posture. These postures mentioned  in Shilpshastra, Natyashatra and other ancient texts have been seen in many stone and metal images of ancient and medieval Kashmir more particularly in stone images of Avantipora. In Kashmir, stone and metal sculpture art had touched its zenith during the rule of Avantivarman. The ancient and medieval sculptures of Kashmir follow guidelines of the Shilpshastra, Natyashastra and other texts of ancient art.

 In Abhanga ( with single flexion ), the feet of the Devi ( goddess ) or Nartaki ( female dancer ) are shown resting on the ground while one leg is in slight flexion with the hip protruding. The body weight rests on the stretched leg . A few broken sculptures in Atibhanga ( where body is shown with more than three bends ) posture have also been seen in Kashmir. 
Abhanga and Tribhanga  postures convey benevolence , divinity, grace and sensuality. A large number of  ancient and medieval stone or metal sculptures from South India depict the Devi ( goddess ) or the Nartaki ( female dancer ) in Abhanga or  Tribhanga  posture. The bronze Natjraja sculptures of South India depict Shiva in Atibhanga posture.

In the sitting posture, Padamasana ( lotus posture ),Virasana (heroic posture ) , Yogasana ( yoga posture ) , Sattvaparyanka ( noble posture ) ,Sattvasana (  showing attention to others ),Maharajaliasana ( relaxed position ) , Lalitasana ( position of serenity ) and Pralambapsana ( position of deep contemplation ) postures have also been seen in many metal and stone sculptures of Kashmir .

And almost every posture of Buddha as mentioned in sacred texts of Buddhism ,has been sculpted in ancient and medieval Kashmir.

                                                                        
   

(Avtar Mota)



Creative Commons License
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\.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

MAAYA. REMAINS THE GREATEST CHEAT

                                              


MAYA, MAHA THAGNI HUM JANI....



.." Maya Maha Thagni Hum Jaani 

Tirgun Phans Liye Kar Dole 
Bole Madhuri Baani
Kesav Ke Kamla Ve Baithi 
Shiv Ki Bhavan Bhavani
Panda Ke Moorat Ve Baithi
 Tirath Mein Bhai Pani
Yogi Ke Yogin Ve Baithi
 Raja Ke Ghar Rani
Kahu Ke Hira Ve Baithi 
Kahu Ke Kodi Kani
Bhaktan Ke Bhaktin Veh Baithi
 Brahma Ke Brahmani
Kahe Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
 Yeh Sab Akath Kahani.."
( Kabir)

This is how I understand this Nirguna Bhajan ...

( Maya as I understand,
remains the greatest illusory cheat ;
 With a sweet tongue ,
Spreading her arms 
welcoming all, 
she opens her inescapable trap.


Like a lotus at the feet of Vishnu, the sustainer ,
she sits to demonstrate abundance.
Like a worldly queen,
she sits near Shiva the destroyer.
Near the priest,
she sits like the idol to be worshipped.
And at pilgrimages ,
She appears taking the shape of sacred water.
For a Yogi ,
she appears as spiritual companion.
And for the King's household,
She appears as his queen.
For some she appears as precious diamond ,
And for some a useless penny .
For the worshippers,
She appears as the object of their worship.

For Brahma , the creator of this universe,she manifests herself as his consort.
Says Kabir 
"Listen this untold story ,
 you seekers of truth .)


FOR A GOOD DAY...

(Avtar Mota)

Monday, February 22, 2021

RAM NIRANJAN NYAARA RE.......KABIR

                                   


                                   

                            

RAM NIRANJAN  NYAARA RE......

Ram Niranjan Nyaara Re,
Anjan Sakal Pasaara Re 

Anjan Utapati, Omkar,
Anjan Mange Sab Bistar 
Anjan Brahma Shankar Inder
Anjan Gopi Sangi Govind Re 

Anjan Vani, Anjan Ved,
Anjan Kiya Na Na Bhed 
Anjan Vidya Path Puran, 
Anjan Woh Kat Kat Hi Gyan Re 

Anjan Paati Anjan Dev, 
Anjan Ki Kare Anjan Sev  
Anjan Nache Anjan Gawe,
 Anjan Bhesh Anant Dikhawe Re 

Anjan Kahan Kahan Lag Keta,
Daan Punya Tap Tirath Jeta 
Kahe Kabir Koi Birla Jage,
Anjan Chaadhi Anant Hi Dage Re

(Kabir)



I understand this Nirguna Bhajan this way....


"Matchless remains Rama ,
the unblemished/ spotless one ,
Rama , the pure
is spread in this entire blemished
reality around us.

We polluted the  creation's womb ,
Omkar too , we tainted;
And now this pollution demands expansion in every sphere.
The Brahma ,Shankara, Indira,Govinda and his Gopis,
We blemished  them all.

We polluted the spoken words,
we polluted the listening as well.
This blemished conduct
created too many distinctions .

The knowledge,
the prayers,
the scriptures ,
our questions,
our  reasoning,
everything we polluted.

The green leaves,
the  enlightened beings,
 the  master,
the servant,
the singer,
the dancer,
this tainted now  exists in limitless or infinite shapes and  forms.

There is hardly any place in this world
where this polluted hasn't manifested itself .
In the philanthropy,
In our austerities,
and in our  pilgrimages,
the polluted has become victorious in every field.
Says Kabir ,only some exceptional individual lies awakened ,
Otherwise the blemished has left his imprints everywhere in every creature."

(Avtar Mota) 


Creative Commons License
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\.

BODHISATTVAS WITH MOUSTACHES..

                                            
                        ( Gandhara Sculpture)
  ( Buddha in Gandhara sculpture )


             ( Gandhara sculpture)
( Buddha meets a Brahmin )
       ( A Gandhara Bodhisattva) 
 ( A Gandhara  Buddha in Metropolitan Museum of Art New York. Greek influence is starkly visible) 
     ( A Gandhara Bodhisattva )


  ( A Kushana King  . Gandhara sculpture)
BODHISATTVAS  WITH  MOUSTACHES..

I have seen many Gandhara sculptures in museums wherein Bodhisattvas are shown with moustaches making them look like normal human beings .Many ancient Greek ,Roman and Bactrian sculptures have also beards and moustaches . 

The Gandhara School of art  developed in first century AD along with Mathura School during reign of Kushana emperor Kanishka. The Kushanas were patrons of Gandhara School.Possibly   Kushanas were first to sculpt  the Buddha in human form.The Gandhara region had long been at crossroads of cultural influences of East and West.

Between the first and fifth centuries of our time, Gandhara art flourished in the area that is northwest Pakistan today. 
Well-known cities of the Gandhara include Takshasila (Taxila), Purushapura (Peshawar) and Pushkalavati (Mardan), where remains have been discovered and continue to be found to this day.

Gandhara witnessed the rule of several major powers of antiquity .It was ruled by Persian Achaemenid Empire (c. 600-400 BCE), Greeks of Macedon (c. 326-324 BCE), Mauryas of Northern India (c. 324-185 BCE), Indo-Greeks of Bactria (c. 250-190 BCE), Scythians of Eastern Europe (c. 2nd century to 1st century BCE),Parthian Empire (c. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE), Kushans of Central Asia (c. 1st to 5th century CE), White Huns of Central Asia (c. 5th century CE), Hindu Shahi of Northern India (c. 9th to 10th century CE). This was followed by Muslim conquests by which time we come to the medieval period of Indian history.

I believe that the Gandhara sculptures are also highly influenced by Greek  and Bactrian style. The moustaches could be Greco-Bactrian influence. Any other opinion is welcome.

( Avtar Mota)


Creative Commons License
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\.

IT IS PERCEPTION ONLY.

                                  



PERCEPTION.....

  Avtar Mota feels like this:-

"When we move  with other people,we can see loving human beings or indifference  around us . We can see repulsive individuals  or  fragrant minds  and sympathetic individuals   by our side  . Our own perception is what matters and what we look at may not be the reality. I have often felt that the moment we change the  perception, reality also changes for us  . Does it mean that the real trouble lies in our own  perception or I should say inadequacy of perception  ?Our own perception creates  our reality . Most often, we don't see things as they are  , we see them according to our own perception or I should say as we are. And our own perception keeps us  away from the truth ."

(Avtar Mota)

Creative Commons License
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\.

'UNAFRAID ,I SHALL SING THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE FORMLESS' KABIR

                                            



NIRBHAY NIRGUN GUN RE GAAONGA..

"Nirbhay nirgun gun re gaaunga

mool kamal dradh aasan bandhu-ji
ulti pavan chaddaaunga

man mamta ko thir kar laaun-ji
paancho tat milaaunga

ingala pingala sukhman naadi-ji
tirveni pe nahaaunga

paanch pachhison pakad mangaaun-ji
ek hi dor lagaaunga

shoonya shikhar par anhad baaje-ji
raag chattis sunaaunga

kahat kabir suno bhaai saadho-ji
jeet nishaan ghuraaunga"


This is how I understand this Nirguna Bhajan:


( I will,
Surely I will sing ,
I will sing unafraid 
the attributes of the formless supreme being.
Binding this body at the lotus base ,
I shall make my breath go higher and higher.
Calming my feelings and my mind,
I shall unite the five elements .

The right channel,
the left channel
and the middle channel through
which the  prana of the physical body, the subtle body and the causal body flow, 
I shall take a dip at their confluence

I shall catch the five and the twenty five
and put them in one thread.

At the summit of emptiness,
the spot where the unstruck sound resonates,
I shall sing all the thirty six Ragas.
Kabir says 
" Listen you , the seekers of the truth ,this way alone,
I shall arrive at the winning post ) 

(Avtar Mota)





Creative Commons License
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\.

Saturday, February 13, 2021

THE GHORRA GALLI STONE SCULPTURES

                                               
                                            



                   THE GHORRA GALLI SCULPTURES 

The locals say that these stone sculptures in the Pir Panjal on Gool -Sangaldhan road (about 50 km from Ramban or about 200 km from Jammu ) were done by Pandavas during their exile. These unique stone sculptures showing men riding horses are spread over an area of 5 Kanals of forest land. The sculptures are exquisite and have been done possibly during the medieval period of history . However , this needs expert scrutiny and serious research .Similar stone sculptures were found near Gadi Nalla and Sildhar areas of Reasi.Done in stone, the men shown riding these stone horses look like early Roman soldiers . The sculptures show Bactrian / Greek influence and have been done as reliefs. 

At Ghorra Galli, we find some ancient water springs known as Baoli . One is functional while the rest are blocked . The sculptures face apathy and neglect. Some are broken and fragmented. The stone Baolis give an idea about some human habitation at this site.
Has any research work been done about these sculptures ? A research may throw up many surprises. Prior to Mughal Road, many old tracks were used for entry to and exit from the Kashmir Valley.Did the ancient route to Nagarkot from Kashmir valley pass through Gool, Babour and Ramkote ? There was an ancient route to Kashmir via Babour ( Manwal ) and Reasi. 

Locals say that some sculptures have been stolen and some need to be excavated. Who is taking care of these sculptures ? To my knowledge , neither ASI nor any establishment of the UT.  

The army built an approach road to this heritage site. 
( Avtar Mota )               

Creative Commons License
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\.

Monday, February 8, 2021

MY MINI POEM JANUARY19,1990..

                                              


A mini poem January 19, 1990..

Just wrote today.. intensely  painful memories. 

"Aasmaan ke sabhi Jo taare thay
Toot kar gir gaye hain galiyon mein
Ab kahaan roshini nazar hogi
Ab kahaan zindagi basar hogi
Vo Jo sadiyon ke kuchh sahaare thay
Aaj Munh mod Kar guzarte hain
Koyi bandook le nikaab taley
Kar raha intezar aangan mein
Baat sachi karein to darte Hain"


(Avtar Mota)



Creative Commons License
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\.

Thursday, February 4, 2021

SNOWFALL IN KASHMIR JAUARY 2021.

                
Snowfall in Kashmir .. January 2021..
                              


                     ( The frozen Dal Lake)






           ( Jogilanker bridge, Rainawari)





                      ( Shankracharya Temple)







                              ( Gulmarg)



                        ( Dal lake)




                     ( Hazratbal Dargaah)




                     ( Dal lake)
                             ( Nishat Garden)








              ( Chhatti Padshahi Gurudwara)


        ( Prayag or Shadipora Chinar tree)
                                          




                                           

             ( Saffron fields of Pampore)
                                            
Thanks to friends and groups in Facebook who shared these photographs.


( Avtar Mota)








Creative Commons License
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\.