Literature of Kashmir

The Literature of Kashmir has a long history with the oldest texts having been composed in the Sanskrit language. Early names include Patanjali, the author of the Mahābhāṣya commentary on Pāṇini's grammar, suggested by some to have been the same to write the Hindu treatise known as the Yogasutra, and Dridhbala, who revised the Charaka Samhita of Ayurveda.

In medieval times, philosophers of Kashmir Shaivism include Vasugupta (c. 800), Utpala (c. 925), Abhinavagupta, Kshemaraja, and Anandavardhana. Within contemporary Kashmir literature there are many poets, including Asif Tariq Bhat Tashi Shah, Akeel Mohiuddin Bhat, and Zeeshan Jaipuri.

Kashmiri language literature

The below listed table marks Kashmiri language poets in chronological order as per the book— A History of Kashmiri literature by Trilokinath Raina. Name Years Birthplace Period RemarksLal Ded1320–1392Pandrethan, or Padmanpore (modern Sempore, Pampore)Kashmir Shaivism She was the Kashmiri mystic poet credited with pioneering the Vaakh/Vatsun genre of Kashmiri literature.Nund Reshi1377–1440Khee, Qaimoh, KulgamSufismNund Reshi was among the founders of the Rishi order, a Sufi tradition of the region. He mainly wrote Shrukhs. His well-known disciples from this order include- Dehat Ded, Behat Ded, Shanga Bibi, Sham Ded and Ganga Bibi.Hazrat Shaikh Yaqub Sarfi1521–1595Zainkadal, SrinagarSufism Popularly known as "Ishan sa'eb", Sarfi was a Kashmiri Sufi Shaikh of the Kubrawi Hamadani order. He became a Hafiz Quran at the age of seven. He has many Vaakhs to his credit. Habba Khatoon1554–1609Chandhur, PamporeLyricismShe is known to lyricize her wailing cries for lost time. The queen poet was popularly known as the "Nightingale of Kashmir".Jumma BibiN/ANowhatta, SrinagarSufism and LyricismShe was the daughter of a Kandur (baker), and was quite close to Mirza Akmal ud Din Badakshi. Her Vaakhs are mostly inspired by mystical subjects. She had also composed a Kashir marsiya (Kashmiri elegy) on the death of Mirza Kamal.Khawaja Habibullah Ganai Nowshehri1555–1617Nowshera, SrinagarSufismHe was the main Khulafa (successor) to Hazrat Shaikh Yaqub Sarfi and was Hafiz Quran, and very much fond of singing. He had written some notable Vaakhs too. Rupa Bhawani1621–1721Khanqah-i-Shokta, Nawakadal (Srinagar at present)Kashmir Shaivism and Islamic SufismHer Vaakhs reveal the influence of both Kashmir Shaivism and Islamic Sufism.Sahab Kaulb. 1629Habba Kadal, SrinagarKashmir ShaivismHis 'Krishna Avtaar Charit is the first Kashmiri poem of Leela (Divine play) genre. |- |Nunda Dar |d. 1774 |Village Kaathyul |Sufism |He and Mir Syed Ullah Shahabadi are the only two poets who attempted the Ghazal writing successfully before Mahmud Gami. |- |Arnimal ||1738–1778 |Palhalan, Pattan ||Lyricism |She is the second poet after Habba Khatoon in the field of lyricism. |- |Mir Abdulla Behaqi |d. 1798 |N/A |Sufism |He is the first Kashmiri poet to adopt Mathnavi (rhyming couplets) as his medium in poetry. |- |Shah Gafoor |N/A |Village Choon, Budgam |Lyricism |His well-known works include Rosh Paan Havtam Kashvaniye, Sorui Chu Panai Be Vanai Kya, and Kya Gov Malaal tes Yarsei among others. |- |Momin Shah sa'eb |d. 1800 |Buried at Babgom, Pulwama |Sufism |To him belongs the honour of writing the first well-received Mathnavi in Kashmiri, titled 'Mantaq-al-tayyar' based on Persian mathnavi of the same title by Attar. |- |Swocha Kral |1774–1854 |Village Koil, Pulwama (buried at Yendregam, Pulwama) |Sufism |He was known to be the mureed (disciple) of Momin sa'eb. His poetry is an exposition of the philosophy of Wahdat-al-Wajood. |- |Khwaja Hussain Mir |d. 1826 |Habak, Magam, buried at Gund Khawja Qasim |Devotional |Hussain Mir is regarded as the founder of the Classical Age in Kashir Marsiya, known as Muqam Band. |- |Parmananda ||1791–1864 |Village Seer, Martand (Mattan at present) ||Mysticism ||His most notable works include Radha Swayamvara. |- |Pandit Mirza Kak |N/A |Hangulgund, Kokernag, Anantnag |Mysticism |He had authored Shiv Puraan in Kashmiri language. |- |Shah Qalandar |d. 1850 |Haigam (Sopore), or Wahthora, Chadoora dist. Budgam |Lyricism |Known for his popular mathnavi Adam ta Guljaan (love-story of faqir Adam and Princess Guljaan). |- |Mahmud Gami ||1765–1855 |Village Aravaer (modern Mahmudabad), Dooru Shahabad, Anantnag ||Lyricism ||Popularly known as Jami of Kashmir, he had also translated Nizami's Layla Majnun into Kashmiri titled 'Lael Majnun. |- |Rahim Sopori |1775–1850 |Telwaen mohallà, Sopore |Sufism |He belonged to the Qadri order of Sufism and was significantly influenced by Lal Ded and Nund Reshi. He is specifically known for using Sanskrit Shastra words in his poetry. |- |Mulla Munshi Mohammad Yusuf Baba |1798-1885 |Babapora, Habba Kadal, Srinagar |Devotional |He is best known for his portal of human loss and grief in Kashmiri Marsiya. Munshi Yusuf remains one of the most popular Kashmiri Marsiya writers. |- |Mulla Hakim Muhammad Azim |1803-1852 |Babapora, Habba Kadal, Srinagar |Devotional |He is known for introducing visual imagery in Kashmiri Marsiya and repositioning it in the urban, Persianate high culture associated with Srinagar city. |- |Mirza Aboul Qasim |d. 1853 |Gund Khawja Qasim, buried Karbala, Iraq |Devotional |The most prolific and popular Marsiya writer of Kashmir Marsiyas, his works reflects deep understanding of traditional Muslim knowledge both literary as well as religious. |- |Munshi Safdar Khan |d. 1850s |Awadh, Uttar Pradesh |Devotional |He worked in the court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and is said to have been poisoned in his late 20's. He is the first poet who introduced the genre of writing bey-nuqta (verses withouts any diacritical marks) in Kashmiri Marsiya, in a marsiya of bearing the same name. |- |Wali Ullah Motoo |d. 1858 |Wuhan, Beerwah dist. Budgam |Sufism |He has written a Mathnavi based on the legend of Hemal and Nagrai. |- |Nyam sa'eb |1805–1865 |Agh hamaam Habba Kadal, Srinagar |Lyricism |He is best known for his lyrical ghazals that have been sung by generation of Kashmiris. His Taelib (tutee) named Rasul Shah Haaqsa was the murshid (spiritual guide) to Shamas Faqir. |- |Abdul Ahad Nazim |1807–1865 |N/A |Sufism and Lyricism |He was also known as 'Waiz Shah Nur-ud-din', considered the finest Na'at writer of Kashmir. He had penned the famous Sufi song- Yim Zaar Vanahas Bardar. |- |Lakshman Joo Raina Bulbul |1812–1898 |Malapora, Ganderbal |Lyricism |Wrote the well-known razmia mathnavi Saamnaama, translation of Firdausi's Classic Shahnaama. |- |Karam Buland |d. 1899 |Haanz Gund, Wahthora Budgam |Lyricism |He had great love of music, theatre and organizing musical sessions. The NGO- Karam Buland Folk Theatre Group in Budgam is also named after him. |- |Maqbool Shah Kralwaer |1820–1877 |Kralwara, Nagam Budgam |Sufism |He is best known for his mathnavi Gulrez'. A mathnavi, many claim as finest descriptive poetry of the 19th-century Kashmiri literature. |- |Ahmad Batwaer |1838–1918 |Batawara, Soura, Srinagar |Sufism |His well known works include Az Boaz Saeni Mudda, 'Yendraaz Zyeni Darbaar', Bedaar Cheshmov Dedaar' and many others. Rasul Mir1840–1870Dooru Shahabad, AnantnagRomanticismHe is popularly known as the John Keats of Kashmir. Rasul Mir formally inaugurated Ghazal into Kashmiri poetry. Gazals with rivers, valleys, birds, fruits and imagery of Kashmir are his forte.Abdul Ahad Nadim1842–1911BandiporaLyricismHad written the social satire Shahar'ashob.Wahab Khar1842–1912Khrew, Pampore, PulwamaSufismHe came from a lineage of poets: his father and grandfather, both blacksmiths by profession, were also venerated Sufi poets.Wahab Parray1845–1914Khos mohallà, Hajin, BandiporaSufismHe had translated Firdausi's 'Shahnaama' from Persian to Kashmiri in the year 1900.Pandit Govind Kaul1846–1899SrinagarMysticismAs a profound Kashmiri scholar he had helped Aurel Stein in translating Kalhana's Rajatarangini. Rahman Dard. 1897Safa Kadal, SrinagarSufismHe is best known for his Mathnavi Sheeshrang.Shamas Faqir1849–1904Zaindar, SrinagarSufismHe belonged to the Qadriya silsila of Sufism and had also written the mathnavi Mehrajnaama, recounting the Islamic prophet Muhammad's Mehraj (spiritual journey) to Allah.Aga Sayyid Muhammad Safvid. 1932Mirgund, BudgamReligious ProseA religious scholar by training he wrote 'Minhaj ul Salah wa Miraj al Falah', popularly known as Kashir Kitab' (c.1888), one of the first works in Kashmiri prose. |- |Pir Ghulam Mohammad Hanfi |1849–1937 |N/A |Sufism |He is said to have translated Quran into Kashmiri. Some scholars believe that the Kashmiri translation of Quran which was published under the name of Maulvi Yusuf Shah was actually done by Hanfi. |- |Krishan Joo Razdan |1850–1925 |Wanpoh, Anantnag |Kashmir Shaivism |He is known for his Shiv Puraan and Shiv Lagan.|- |Mulla Hakim Habib ul Lah |1852-1904 |Babapora, Habba Kadal, Srinagar

|Devotional Mysticism

Literature of Kashmir

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