These were the lines written by Swami Vidhyadhar Ji, a great
Shaivite Saint, and Mystic, about Gurudev Sri Swami
Ram (of Fateh Kadal), who was his spiritual Guru.
Swami Ram Ji can easily be seen as a saint, seer and a great scholar of Kashmiri Shaivism. In addition being social reformer and a profound revivalist of Kashmir Shaivism from past century. He was born in a humble Kashmiri Pandit family (Braroo's). With sheer persistence and hard work, he was able to revive Kashmir Shaivism in its entirety, in the valley of Kashmir. Even though priest by profession (like Ramakrishna Paramhansa), he had a sheer urge to know the secrets of Kashmir Shaivism. It looks like the Greek phrase, "To Know Thyself", was always the cornerstone of his life. Kashmir Shaivism was mostly held up within elite families, who had gotten them through traditional lineages. If there was one thing that single marked him out from other people was his tenacity. He was a single instrument in deciphering the inner secret of the ancient philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism and its proper propagation, without any biases (religious or otherwise). It is to him we owe an establishment of Research Dept. under the keen eye of Maharaja Pratap Singh(1). It is not a surprise that most of the books published by Dept. are all from Kashmir Shaivism discipline one way or other. In fact that search and establishment spun a movement of revival, which was initiated by Swami Ram Ji. Swami Ram Ji, after assiduous Sadhanas and study thought of assimilating the system and propagating it. This wish was fulfilled by their esteemed disciple Nav Narayan (father of Swami Lakshmanjoo (2), another Shaivite Saint, a Grand-Disciple of Swami Ram Ji), providing one of their house, at Fateh Kadal to Swami Ram Ji. Later this house was established as an Ashram, in 1884. Aforementioned Ashram, also known as Sri Ram Shaiva Trika Ashram, is still open today, though not that thriving, post Kashmiri Pandit migration(3). The day to day activities and annual havans are being performed under tutelage of Dr. T. N. Ganjoo—being the second generation initiate (disciple of Swami Govind Koul Jalali)—who never left the valley and would go up to Ashram every day, for daily pooja, even in storming years of militancy. Though it must be said that the careful study of scriptures and spiritual practices became extinct, post Kashmiri Pandit migration, the legacy is still going on. It was in the premises of this Ashram that Swami Ram Ji started tutoring people from all ages, cultures, background in Kashmir Shaivism. From illiterate masses, reading only a few initial books, to highly learned scholars (like Harabhatt Shastri), Swami Ram Ji was accessible to all. Giving out intricacies of scriptures, which are terse, like Agamic Literature, to spiritual guidance to laymen and disciples alike. In all those years Swami Ram Ji not only refined Kashmir Shaivism material but also made a prescribed curriculum for approaching Kashmir Shaivism. Any study of Kashmir Shaivism is shrouded with mystery and inaccessibility, due to terseness and obscurity of material. In the same light, we would like to approach Kashmir Shaivism, with blessings of Swami Ram Ji, delineating its principles and practices. With a full emphasis on structure and approach, as there is lots of misunderstanding amidst scholars and laymen alike. This is expected owing to lots of research work being done in past century by great Indian and Western scholars. Plus the overall mass of literature, out of which many things are lost. The literature is overwhelmingly abundant, thus creating further confusion for any new or old student of Kashmir Shaivism. The extinct literature doesn't impair system in anyways, as it was bridged by personal Sadhanas of Swami Ram Ji. So do we begin our journey to bring up some clarity and clear the mist from our eyes, until we realize "Para-Bhairava" residing in all of us.
Swami Ram Ji can easily be seen as a saint, seer and a great scholar of Kashmiri Shaivism. In addition being social reformer and a profound revivalist of Kashmir Shaivism from past century. He was born in a humble Kashmiri Pandit family (Braroo's). With sheer persistence and hard work, he was able to revive Kashmir Shaivism in its entirety, in the valley of Kashmir. Even though priest by profession (like Ramakrishna Paramhansa), he had a sheer urge to know the secrets of Kashmir Shaivism. It looks like the Greek phrase, "To Know Thyself", was always the cornerstone of his life. Kashmir Shaivism was mostly held up within elite families, who had gotten them through traditional lineages. If there was one thing that single marked him out from other people was his tenacity. He was a single instrument in deciphering the inner secret of the ancient philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism and its proper propagation, without any biases (religious or otherwise). It is to him we owe an establishment of Research Dept. under the keen eye of Maharaja Pratap Singh(1). It is not a surprise that most of the books published by Dept. are all from Kashmir Shaivism discipline one way or other. In fact that search and establishment spun a movement of revival, which was initiated by Swami Ram Ji. Swami Ram Ji, after assiduous Sadhanas and study thought of assimilating the system and propagating it. This wish was fulfilled by their esteemed disciple Nav Narayan (father of Swami Lakshmanjoo (2), another Shaivite Saint, a Grand-Disciple of Swami Ram Ji), providing one of their house, at Fateh Kadal to Swami Ram Ji. Later this house was established as an Ashram, in 1884. Aforementioned Ashram, also known as Sri Ram Shaiva Trika Ashram, is still open today, though not that thriving, post Kashmiri Pandit migration(3). The day to day activities and annual havans are being performed under tutelage of Dr. T. N. Ganjoo—being the second generation initiate (disciple of Swami Govind Koul Jalali)—who never left the valley and would go up to Ashram every day, for daily pooja, even in storming years of militancy. Though it must be said that the careful study of scriptures and spiritual practices became extinct, post Kashmiri Pandit migration, the legacy is still going on. It was in the premises of this Ashram that Swami Ram Ji started tutoring people from all ages, cultures, background in Kashmir Shaivism. From illiterate masses, reading only a few initial books, to highly learned scholars (like Harabhatt Shastri), Swami Ram Ji was accessible to all. Giving out intricacies of scriptures, which are terse, like Agamic Literature, to spiritual guidance to laymen and disciples alike. In all those years Swami Ram Ji not only refined Kashmir Shaivism material but also made a prescribed curriculum for approaching Kashmir Shaivism. Any study of Kashmir Shaivism is shrouded with mystery and inaccessibility, due to terseness and obscurity of material. In the same light, we would like to approach Kashmir Shaivism, with blessings of Swami Ram Ji, delineating its principles and practices. With a full emphasis on structure and approach, as there is lots of misunderstanding amidst scholars and laymen alike. This is expected owing to lots of research work being done in past century by great Indian and Western scholars. Plus the overall mass of literature, out of which many things are lost. The literature is overwhelmingly abundant, thus creating further confusion for any new or old student of Kashmir Shaivism. The extinct literature doesn't impair system in anyways, as it was bridged by personal Sadhanas of Swami Ram Ji. So do we begin our journey to bring up some clarity and clear the mist from our eyes, until we realize "Para-Bhairava" residing in all of us.
1. Swami Ram Ji had urged Maharaja Pratap Singh to open a department for publishing Kashmiri Shaivistic literature, which was extant and available in manuscript forms only.
3. Another branches are active in Jammu, though traditional study is rarity now and is no longer practiced.
Written in a lucid and simple way.Would be highly obliged if the writer would also explain the basic idea of kashmiri Shavism and it's view of the human life. Looking forward to that.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your lovely comments. My intention is to write as plainly as possible! Future articles would definitely provide basic idea and structure of Kashmir Shaivism. More importantly it would be linked to our daily lives.
DeleteWritten in a lucid and simple way.Would be highly obliged if the writer would also explain the basic idea of kashmiri Shavism and it's view of the human life. Looking forward to that.
ReplyDeleteA very good initiative. Like in all other studies, a basic framework is required and once the scaffolding is in place, we quickly move on to the essence of the study. My humble submission is to move on to the essence of Shaivasim. O! Enlightened one, enlighten us all.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteA very good initiative. Like in all other studies, a basic framework is required and once the scaffolding is in place, we quickly move on to the essence of the study. My humble submission is to move on to the essence of Shaivasim. O! Enlightened one, enlighten us all.
ReplyDeleteWhere did my post from a few weeks ago, vanish?
ReplyDeleteSamesh Braroo
SHIVA is within us all,& shakti is all around us, by knowing shakti we can see / feel/ the bliss of SHIVA, by knowing ourselves from within. All be blessed.
ReplyDeleteSHIVA is within us all,& shakti is all around us, by knowing shakti we can see / feel/ the bliss of SHIVA, by knowing ourselves from within. All be blessed.
ReplyDeletedo we have the ashram's website
ReplyDelete