Maharishi Shri Bhat: The Pandit who revived the  community

Neave Kak

With an effort to find more about my roots, I decided to research into the history of  Kashmir. Unfortunately, there isn’t an abundance of information on the ancestry of Kashmiri Pandits so I thought I would begin with studying about the customs. While researching on a recent Kashmiri festival – Navreh – I found out that it coincides with the tyaag (sacrifice) that Shri Bhat made for his community’s revival. I was intrigued to find out more about his sacrifices and what he did to be regarded with such reverence. Shri Bhat was a Kashmiri Pandit who was an extraordinary Sanskrit scholar and a physician.

The 15th century was full of turbulence for the Kashmiri Hindus. Kashmir was ruled by Sultan Sikandar from the Shah Mir Dynasty. His rule was that of oppression and brutality. He levied the Jizya, an exploitative tax that only the Hindus had to pay. Under his reign the Hindus were left with no option but to get converted or killed. Those who could run away did so. At one point, it is said that seventy thousand Kashmiri Hindus were forced to migrate out of Kashmir. Their houses were looted, temples plundered and religious texts were thrown in the Dal Lake. There was a point when there were only 11 Kashmiri Pandit families left in the Valley. 

The death of Sikandar came as a respite to Hindus. His son Zain ul Abudin was somewhat a contrast to his father. This was the period when Hindus breathed a sigh of relief. According to some historians, once Zain ul Abudin got quite sick. None of his royal medics could help him. Shri Bhat, a well renowned physician was called to attend to the sultan. Shri Bhat had immense knowledge in vedic medicine. He was successful in treating the Sultan from his terminal disease. As a token of thanks and appreciation he asked Shri Bhat what he wanted in return. Zain ul Abudin offered him money and wealth. The selfless Shri Bhat declined and said he didn’t want any riches as most of his family had either fled or died. The king asked if there was anything to do in an attempt to repay him. Shri Bhat said, if anything, he would want the jizya tax to be removed and the exiled Kashmiris to return to their land. He also requested for the temples to be restored and Hindus be allowed to carry out their religious rituals and celebrate festivals like Shivratri. The Sultan out of gratitude accepted it all. Thereafter started the return of Hindus back to their homeland. Shri Bhat ensured the revival of his community in their homeland –  Kashmir. This also made the Sultan have a change of heart for the Hindus and he became a just ruler fondly remembered as ‘Baadshaah’. 

Instead of accepting a life of luxury and comfort, Shri Bhat chose to do good for his community and restored its pride in the homeland.

We are a progeny of such a selfless human being. With his knowledge and, mainly, his tyaag – his sacrifices – he reinstated his community.

Image credit: Shri Ravi Dhar (Main picture)