Kashmir birthplace of Shaivism, a major Hindu tradition
Kashmir has often been presented globally as some sort of Indian military occupation over Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). A brief history would help in understanding this conflict better. The state of J&K was primarily a Hindu state until the 14th century. Few modern Indians are aware that Kashmir is the birthplace of Shaivism – one of the major traditions in Hinduism that reveres Lord Shiva. The tutelary deity of classical Kashmir was Sharada, a manifestation of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom, whose prayers refer to her as “Kashmira-pura-vasini” (she who resides in Kashmir). Because of such civilisational connections from pre-Islamic Kashmir, the place holds a significant religious value for Hindus. Fast forwarding to 1947, during the Partition of India, Kashmir’s king Hari Singh decided to bide his time in deciding the fate of the state of J&K. During this uncertainty, the newly-formed Islamic Republic of Pakistan-backed militants invaded Kash