The ‘Alamdār

Shaikh-ul Aalam Centre for Multidisciplinary Studies

University of Kashmir

ISSN: 2249-5096

Sufis began to gradually arrive and settle in different parts of the subcontinent, a process that gained major traction in the 13th century, when scholars, holy men and teachers from Iran and Central Asia fled to India to escape the Mongol invasions. However, even before their arrival, Vedanta and Sufi philosophies had a long history of mutual interaction in India. Nevertheless, the arrival of Sufis led to a process of exchange and interaction with the various local cults in India, including Bhakti communities, enriching and transforming them in the process while emphasizing on an all-immersing love for God and a personal relationship with the Divine that was unmediated. This paper seeks to explore the connections between Sufism and the Bhakti movement in India, and the process of interaction and exchange through which they transformed the other. It shall also look at the socio-cultural context that made such interactions possible, and the inherent qualities within the two spiritual movements that made such conversations and exchanges inevitable.

Kashmir is known for its rich cultural heritage and Sufi traditions. It is a land that witnessed the Sufis of highest order who directly influenced the lives of common folks. As far as Shaikh Noor-ud-Din Wali (RA) is concerned, he was an outstanding Sufi saint who served Kashmiri Sufi culture in a Kashmiri dialect. Shaikh Noor-ud-Din Wali (RA) as a Sufi preached them the way to absolute in a common language. For Shaikh, Religion was not a theoretical subject, but an object of experience. His experience while he was in his ascetic state, bridge the gap between the ultimate goal that was to realize the Absolute. The mysticism that was taught by Shaikh Noor-ud-Din (RA) was the outcome of his life-long experience that is why he left footprints on Kashmir’s religious and cultural identity.

A holistic understanding of the socio-cultural and political dynamics of Medieval Kashmir (14th-17th centuries) is contingent on its contextualization concerning the then prevailing Sufi tradition(s). The Sufis, local and indigenous, left an indelible mark on the religious/cultural history of Kashmir with their profound impact on the significant dimensions of the medieval Kashmiri society, i.e., religion, economics, and politics. Their vehement stress on the doctrines of love, peace, compassion, social justice, and equality created an appealing ambiance. It made them ever living in the hearts of the masses even centuries after their departure. Despite their common spiritual aspirations, the Sufis belonging to different Sufi Salāsil/orders were at variance regarding their attitude towards the State/politics, economics/wealth, methodology for traversing the spiritual path, and social engagement. Studying and analyzing the role and impact of the Sufis and their variance towards the different dimensions of the medieval Kashmir society, especially politics, economy, education, and social activism, is highly significant for unveiling a substantial segment of the history of Kashmir. Among the major Sufi orders, the Suhrawardiyya order was the first Sufi order to be introduced in Kashmir by Sayyid Sharaf-ud-Din (RA) Alias Bulbul Shah (d.1321 CE), who was instrumental in winning the first-ever conversion of a ruler to Islam in Kashmir. Subsequently, the Sufis belonging to this order, apart from being carrier agents of the religious and spiritual tradition of Islam in Kashmir, considerably influenced the society and politics of Kashmir, especially between the 13th to 16th centuries. The present study, with this backdrop, intends to assess the activities/engagement of few prominent Suhrawardiyya Sufis of Kashmir (14th to 16th centuries) towards the society and politics of medieval Kashmir.

Sufism or Islamic mysticism dates back to Seventh century C.E, the first century of Islam. In Kashmir, Sufism entered after the emergence of Khanqahs and Silsilahs/orders at various places in the Islamic world. But organised Sufi activities practically began to flourish only towards the end of 14th century. In Kashmir, among the silsilah that were introduced, Kubravi order prospered more because of its widespread popularity all over the Muslim world. Sufis in general and Kubraviyas in particular travelled extensively in various parts of the Muslim world. Originally, Kubravi order was founded by Ahmad bin ‘Umara’l-Khayuqi, popularly called Najm-ud-Din Kubra (RA). While teachings of Kubravi order continued to flourish under various disciples of Najm-ud-Din Kubra in different parts of the world, especially in Persia and Central Asia, in Kashmir Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani (RA) introduced the Kubravi order. As a Kubravi saint Mir Sayyid Ali (RA) who visited valley in 1372 C.E. worked like a mason to build the fate of Kashmir. He transformed the Kashmiri society and gave it a sound social, economic, cultural and spiritual base. This paper aims to explore the impact of Kubraviyah Sufi order with special reference to Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani (RA) on Kashmiri Society. The paper focuses on the contribution of Kubraviyah order in enriching mystical, spiritual traditions and cultural heritage of Kashmir and its profound impact on shaping Kashmiri society and foundation of a new indigenous mystic order in Kashmir. For this the paper is divided into three sections, section first explains the concept of Sufism, section second explains the Kubraviyah order and section third discusses the impact of Kubraviyah order on Kashmir.

Linguistic change or language change is the phenomenon whereby some language features vary over time. It is a gradual but continuous process. Lexical change is inevitable for any living language and can be divided into three categories: loss of lexical items, change of meaning, and creation of new lexical items. Similarly Kashmiri language has witnessed tremendous lexical changes over the last 700 years. There are hundreds of words in Shaikh al-ʻĀlam’s (RA) shruks which are very strange for the present generation of Kashmiris. In fact some of these words are not in use anymore or have been replaced with other new words. Focusing on Shaikh al-ʻĀlam’s (RA) shruks, the present paper analyses some of these lexical changes that have occurred in the Kashmiri language over the last seven centuries.

Kashmir is truly a Paradise on Earth, not because of its picturesque splendor, but for the reason that this place has been an abode of sages and saints for centuries. These saints and the Rishi culture that emerged in Kashmir has constantly promoted universal brotherhood among the dwellers of varied faiths and promoted harmony among them. The Rishis have enriched the land of Kashmir adopting a common mode of communication while narrating their spiritual experiences through poetry. Shaikh al-ʻĀlam (RA) the founder of the Rishi invoked poetic medium to imbibe the significance of love, unity, co-existence and above all the message of the Divine. This paper highlights the socio-religious aspect of Shaikh al-ʻĀlam’s (RA) poetry, his life and linage in his own renderings.