HE REMAINS EMBEDDED IN THE VERY SOUL OF KASHMIR
Kashmir’s patron saint, the pride of the vale was born on 6th Jameed-ul-Awal, in the year 779 A.H/1375 A.D to Sheikh Salar-ud-Din and Sadr-i-Moj, in village Kaimuh of Tehsil Kulgam. On paternal and maternal side, he belonged to ‘Sanz’ family. The origin of this family stands traced to Kishtawar.
His deft poetic touches, the song and the spiritual ecstasy encompass our daily being. His tale is woven in and remains embedded in the very soul of Kashmir. The Reshi orders in Kashmir or other places came into being as a form of protest against the ritual devised out of the purity of original divine massage. Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA) led the revolt in Kashmir. In retaliation, the vested interests resorted to lies and slander. That did not deter the revered Sheikh (RA) from relating his views on a variety of socio-political and economic problems in lucid tones, laced with deft poetic touches. Reshi and similar orders predate the advent of Islam, even Christianity. The Jews had one such order in the pre-Christian era called ‘Essen’s’. They formed a significant sect of naturalists, the intricacies of which were hidden from public view. The members would retire to dense forests, wild deserts, places of wilderness to realize the self. Egypt and Palestine formed two main centers of this organization. Some believe the nomenclature of the sect of ‘Essen’s’ to be a derivative of ‘Aasi’ meaning a physician. As revealed in ‘Encyclopedia of religions and ethics’ as per the records preserved in German academic circles, tracing their origin to what was found in the ancient abodes of the order, there are indications of Jesus Christ turning to this sect in his quest of truth and its path.Matter, whatever its form constituted the root of evil for the brotherhood and material pleasure, a sin. The members attaining the pinnacle of nobility and pieties by sustained effort were called ‘Wasilean’. Their award formed a package of blue robe, a rope, and an axe. This would remain a life long possession. In fact the ‘woolen’ robe ‘Suf’ worn by the members of similar order in Islamic lands and Indian subcontinent led to the naming them ‘Sufis’ So, there is an obvious connection. In the valley, also called Resh Ver’e [abode of Reshi’s] Hazrat Sheikh-i-Noorani (RA) was neither the first nor the last of the illustrious order; however he remains the most renowned of revered beings. And for right reasons, the manner of his communication with the masses had an appeal, hard to resist. The exceptions could be traced to orthodox clergy, whom he opposed relentlessly. Ma’lie Dish’zen Maulana RumiNa’teh Ma’leh Dish’zen Neh Zan’h!Seek Mullah in Maulana RumiOr else; don’t seek one at all!He chose Maulana Rumi (RA) for right reasons, like the revered Sheikh (RA) lovingly called ‘Nund Resh’ Rumi was for socio-political activism, as the following couplet bears out:Guft Rumi Har Banayai Khunah Ki Abadan KunandMi Na Dunee Awal Unn Buniyad Ra Vayran Kunand!So, said Rumi; were ye to construct anew on oldKnoweth ye not; destroy it up to depth of the old!This is a revolutionary concept far removed from non-political stance, associated with Sufis. This is political activism on a war path. A new construction cannot survive on an old foundation; it has to be built up on new one. In a similar vein of activism, the patron saint of Kashmir, Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA) takes his order away from the jungle unto the path of remaining involved socially:Wanan Punz’e Te Wandar AasanGagar Gophan Puran WaasYem Panchan Waqtan Agah Mol KasanNeesh Aasan Bachaan Temai Chi Khas!Jungle for monkeys big and small;Rats go on to fill the rat hole! Those, who five times take the call; With dear ones, retaineth the soul! How is such a projection comparable with the attitude of a recluse? Isn’t it an indication of a stream of though of living a decent family life [Neesh Aasan Bachaan/near the family members] remaining involved socially, while holding on to five times a day prayer [Yem Panchan Waqtan Agah Mol Kasan/ who five times take the call] on the way to being amongst the special ones [Temai Chi Khas, put as retaineth the soul for maintaining the meter and the rhyme scheme]. The truth holds that for a period of time, he made jungles of Kashmir, his abode. He was soon to rue the fact, as his communication to his chief disciple, Nasr Baba, conveys clearly:Nasr Baba Jungle Khasun Ga’yi Kha’miMae Duph Yi A’se Budd Iba’datWu’chh Te Yi As’s Budd Badh’namiSu’ye A’se Kar’ni Ku’ni Kath!Nasr Baba! Jungle was a shortcoming;I though it to be a major prayer;Look what bad name was upcoming; Unitary state we had to bear!The poetic appeal stands for unitary state of affairs, sameness of approach [Su’ye A’se Kar’ni Ku’ni Kath, put as Unitary state we had to bear, which rhymes with prayer] in day to day life; living it simply and meaningfully, while remaining socially and politically involved.The the final resting place, the sanctum sanctorum of patron saint is located in Chrar-i-Sharief, hardly an hour’s journey from Srinagar. He had environmental concerns, much ahead of the times, he lived in:Un’n Poshe Tele Yele Wun’n Poshe!Wouldn’t his assertion that availability of food is linked to lasting forest cover draw applause from any international forum in 21st century?Yaar Zinda, Sohbat Baqi [Reunion is subordinate to survival]Feedback on:Iqbal.javid46@gmail.com