Seat of Learning

 

Kashmir has a unique distinction of being a place where people from all walks of life and from all across the globe,  have been coming to seek peace, knowledge and spiritual enlightenment and Kashmir  has traditionally remained the seat of learning, known as Sharada Peetha in ancient times. The contribution of the scholars of this State to Sanskrit literature has simply been remarkable.

The sacred valley of Kashmir is known as “Rishi Vaer” which literally means a garden of sages as numerous saints, mystics and Sufis have been born in this land who preached virtues of truth, wisdom, modesty, simplicity, compassion, etc. The common Kashmiri has adopted these merits and included them in his thinking and actions.

Saints and Holy men from outside the valley, belonging to different sects and religions have visited Kashmir in the past as it was considered a sacred place. Their visits further sanctified the place. The celestial environment gave them a feeling of being in paradise and they were in communion with the divine in their meditative states. Innumerable Sufi saints and spiritual leaders like Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Hargobind Singh, and Jesus Christ, Shankaracharya Ji, Swami Vivekananda and many more Holy men have visited Kashmir.