Lalleshwari and the Rishi Movement
Pt. Moti Lal Pushkar, Jammu
During Mother Lalla's days of
youth, Kashmir was in a boiling pot. External invasions and internal
chaos, killings, mass-migration, destruction of religious places and forced
mass-conversions were order of the day.
Kashmiri society was badly divided among various warring groups,
Casteism was playing havoc and intermitant palace - revolts had thrown up
inexperienced faces to do further damage to the already worne out political
fabric. Corruption was rampant at all levels, lack of foresight and
absence of moral values had added fuel to existing inferno. This trend
touched its nadir during the reign of S. Sikandar the iconoclast (1390-1414
A.D.). With the result mass exodus and heavy toll of life took place. Only
eleven Pandit families saved themselves by hiding in mountain caves and thick
forests; living an unnoticed life there.
It was devastation of un-itnagined magnitude. Social
consciousness was a far cry. Heroic valour was on wane. The great
Philosophical treasure proved of little help. Faith in Divine justice was
lost. In such a turmoil a ray of hope appeared on the horizon challenging
the forces of darkness and sustained masses by applying bahn of love. It
ventured to give new direction to the prevailing situation. It was
Lalleshwari and her Rishi Movement.
Divine Mother Lalla directed all towards divine love of Shiva.
She travelled from village to village and gave encouragement to the masses.
She changed the fate of hopeless lot. She changed despair into eternal
hope. Wherever she went she strengthened faith in Shiva. This became
a regular feature of her mission. The Vaidic, the Shaivas, the Vaishnavas,
the Buddhists, the jains, the Shaktaas including the converted Kashmiris
received love and affection from her. She would recite devotional songs to
bless them all. This very approach took form of a movement known as the
"Rishi Movement" of Lalleshwari.
In the days of yore, sages and seers of Kashmir applied the same
approach to unite the Nagas, the Pishaachas and the Madras into one whole.
They had established Ashrams at various places. These still carry the word
"home" like "Dudurhome", 'Humahome", "Khuyahome"
etc. This was reason that Lalla the greatest of all the sages accepted
word Rishi i.e. a Sage for her mission.
The Institution of Moul
Lalla gave further push to this Rishi Movement. She
involved another great Rishi 'Nunda' in this venture and established two
thousand homes. It was to give a new start, a new life to the
deestablished order.
The daily routine there, in these homes was recitation of
devotional songs, lamps used to be lit, offering of oil for this purpose was
accepted, community feasts were held, images installed, daily "Arati"
was regularly offered. Devotees would offer donation (Cash and kind) and
"Prasad" and "Bhasami" was received from incharge of a home.
Annual festivals used to be celebrated on mass scale and cultural events
presented.
The chief of a home was called Moul i.e. a patron saint who was
expected to offer fatherly treatment towards one and all. This institution
of Moul proved a substitution for spiritual, social and even political
leadership that was done to death by the forces of destruction.
It was a non violent approach to solve the burning problems of
the day. It is a fact that an order can be established either by an iron
hand of a ruthless ruler or by a non-violent approach based on love, service,
sympathy and dedication. Our tradition had been the non-violent approach
of the Rishis.
Mother Lalla convinced masses that violence against man amounts
to violence against Shiva. She silenced militancy, extremism and piety.
Her impact was visible during her times and after words also. Her approach
had left deep imprint on the masses that even the Sultan Badsah accepted Surya
Bhatt's all the three demands gladly. These were (1) Return of migrants
(2) Establishment of Sanskrit schools and (3) Renovation of Hindu Shrines.
Roop Bhavani 1621-1721 A.D. accepted Lalla as her Guru.
The Great Mother Lalla
Lalla was born at Pompow (Panthrethan) in 1320 A.D. in a pious
Brahman family. The word Latta originates from the Sanskrit word Lalita
i.e. the cosmic energy Durga. She was married to a Brahman youth when she
was yet in teens.
Disappointed as she was with her mother-in-law's and her own
husbands behaviour Lalla broke of all connections with her in-laws and started
treading on spiritual path - the Shiva yoga. Her "Gurudev"
namely Siddha Surikantha was a realized soul.
Her poetry is known as "Vak". These Vaks of her
became mantras of this movement. These are even now as muchimportant as
these used to be during her lifetime. Seeing pitiable plight of people
i.e. violence, false-hood intrignes, immorality etc. Lalla directed all to
follow the righteous tracks. She came into prominence during 1344 to 1355
A.D. 'Sirnpur' i.e. her birth place had become a famous seat of Shiva leaming.
Her Philosophical thought moves round the Trika School of the
Kashmiri Shaivism. She is accepted as a great Shivayogini world over.
I see no-parallel to her in the history of Kashmir. Scholars have yet to
access 'Mother Lalla' and her contributions. She was well-versed in the
original Shaiva treatise, its classical works and practical aspects of Shivayoga.
She was embodiment of "jnaana' "Karma" and "Bhakti" all
in one. She recites:
'Know thyself. Don't treat yourself inferior and
valueless'
Nunda Rishi has sung about her:
"Lalla of Padmanpur drank
Deep into the elixir tank
She was Divinity Incarnate
May, Shiva bestow me the same state".
Lalla attained "Nirvana" at Vijayeshwara in 1391 A.D.
Her Samadhi still stands there. Alas ! this historical place has been
encroached upon and occupied completely by the enemies of this Rishi Movement.
This encroachment has occupied this actual temple Samadhi by creating walls of
the mosque compound there on it. The same plight has been perpetuated on
almost all the homes of the Rishi movement.
There are a few homes still alive here and there in the valley
of Kashmir. The Rishi tradition is followed as per past practice.
Week long Rishi festivals are organized, vegetarian food is served and Rishi
devotees adopt the same approach in their respective house-holds during these
days. These houses are (1) Rishi Moul Sahib, Anantnag (2) Batmoul Sahib,
Srinagar (3) Rishi Sahib, Gulmarg and at many other places also.
At the time of Nirvana a divine light emerged forth of Lalla and
entered the etherial sphere. Baba Daud Mishkati writes in his "ASRAR
-UL-ABRAR" composed in 1654 A.D. that Lalla spent her days and nights
contemplating on SHIVA.
First Composer of verses in Kashmiri Language
Lalla has been accepted as the first creative genius, say
poetess of Kashmiri language. It was in 1914 A.D. that by Sir G.
Grierson's efforts her Vaks were collected, numbering 258. Out of this lot
140 had been accepted as original. Actually a couple of years earlier a
saintly person namely Dharam Das Darvesh of Guru Kupwara had collected and
preserved 120 Vaks which were handed down to M.M. Mukud Ram Shastri who in his
turn gave them to Sir G. Grierson. These were published by Grienson and
Aurl Stein jointly. A few VAKS -
Why art thee groping in the dark
See within and catch the track
Shiva is seated Himself there
Why art thee lost here and there.
Mother Lalla advises that essential part of the spiritual growth
is to control one's mind. It is by nature as wavering. It is often
sensual pleasures and runs unchecked towards fresh pastures to feed itself upon.
A master rider who is successful to guide his horse on the right track reaches
his destination.
Lalla sings -
Too much eating does not help
Too much fasting causes ego in self
By balancing diet, balance is obtained
Balance opens doors, goal is reached.
About the Kundalini Yoga -
Topped the ladder, reached the goal
Un-expectedly realized my soul
Physical, mental, worry no more
Lotus came forth from its core.
She was doused in Shiva's love -
Went out in search for Reality
Got exhausted singing His beauty.
Reached the spot but door was closed
Had conquered greed and passion -
I knew Shiva in many a previous birth
Have come from original source of Truth
Un-sophisticated can do no harm
Oneness with Shiva is the only charm
Lalla's only mantram was Om. She was embodiment of
constant heartfelt Japa. She had obtained salvation while in her mortal
coil. It was all due to blessings of Shiva. She became Shiva herself
and offered prayers to Shiva as per her own conscience. She recites-
To Gurudeva repeatedly I asked
What is the name of 'NAMELESS'
Got exhausted, totally fed up
'NOTHING' hinted he, at 'MYSTERIOUS'
Again Lalla Sings-
Did not long for luxuries
Greed and desire not my soup
Got satisfied with simplicities
Bore brent of worries, reached top.
He who contemplates on Shiva alone
By constant Japa of Homa Shiva
After corssing attachment zone
Gets blessed by Parma Shiva.
The transitory world-
A petty tank size of a mustard seed
Various creatures come, quench thirst
Deer, jackal, oceanic elephants,
Other bastards are bom, drink and burst.
When face to face with Parama-Shiva
I started burning like a substance,
Crossed the Sixth wheel turma
Reached Seventh, It was cool moon shine hence.
The Main Contribution of Rishi Movement
The inspirers of Rishi movement had to face a devastating
problem of forced mass conversions to Islam. In this topsy turvy situation
the way out was to unite the broken hearts by offering the love and respect.
The invaders had created a permanent chism in the society. It was
resultant of hate.
Against this back ground the Rishis of the day treated the whole
society as one whole and offered affection. Lalla in that hour of crisis
declared that all paths lead to Shiva. He is present in every creature big
and small the Hindu and the Musalman.
Nunda Rishi as the most prominent pillar of this movement
cautioned Zealot, thus -
Beware, thee don't Sow seeds of hate
Both are Sons of Shiva's trait
They are progeny of the same mother
Do good unite them together
Muslims and Hindus both come from Him
May thee be blessed by Him
Thee wrote books instead
To feed thyself in need.
These sermons don't stop thee
From doing many a sinful deed
This is really bad indeed
You, believe you are a chosen seed
Alas ! will not get desired feed. i.e. salvation
Rishis did not spare the Hindus either for their small
mindedness, casteism and egoistic approach. This concept of caste
superiority had generated falsehood and self centred existence. This very
tendency debarred the Tibetian Buddhist prince Rinchen from accepting the Vaidic
faith, and unity of society was further shortened and door opened for further
ruination. This same trend declared Nunda Rishi as a non-Hindu by the
mighty pen of the historian Jounraja. This same trend did not allow both
the communities to become one under the patronization of Swami Dayananda
Sarawasati. Keeping this kind of approach in view Lalla had offered a ray
of hope, had given patronization had united the masses through her marvellous
way.
She opened doors of Rishi homes for both; offered nectar of
cosmic presence of Shiva. This broadmindedness has come down to us from
our great saints and seers. This broad mindedness was deshaped and wrapped
in false-hood and false show.
Our tradition - KASHMIRIYAT
We are torch-bearers of the Sharda - culture. We should
offer attention to our suffering brothers and sisters. We are supposed to
see in them daughters of the Vitasta and sons of the Sharda. Let us behave
properly and give proper direction to the victims of terrorism and violence.
Those terrorist forces are out to destroy whatever remains of this concept of
the "Kashmiriyat.." Our endeavour be the same as was demonstrated by
mother Lalla. This was the approach of all the saints of the famous Bhakti
movement. This is the preaching of Swami
Vivekananda and Swami Ram Tirtha.
Lalla recites -
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