The Legacy of Kashmir- A Study of the Ancient Faiths of Kashmir

The book is actually one of the chapters of the authors doctoral thesis Islam in Kashmir: Role of Sufis (An Analytical Study). Since the comparative study of religions has got a tremendous importance therefore its publication could be helpful in the understanding of religions in a pluralistic society. It is therefore an endeavour to present the historical and conceptual framework of Kashmir Buddhism and Kashmir Shaivism as understood and put forward by the adherents of these faiths. As such it is just an analytical representation on the part of the author. The fact is quite interesting that prior to its transformation to Islam Kashmir has been a hub of Buddhism and Shaivism. The philosophies of these two faiths flourished here to produce multifarious sages and philosophers. While as Buddhism produced laborious missionaries who crossed perilous terrains to preach this faith to the far off regions of the east Shaivism produced great aestheticians like Abhinavagupta who became the ideologue of Advaita Monism. The Sufis or the Muslim mystics who entered Kashmir mainly from Persia and Central Asia had their own brand of Monism. The two brands intermingled to create the atmosphere for Kashmirs transformation to Islam. This book thus gives a background study of this transformation.