India has recently opened the Sharda Peeth Corridor to allow Hindu pilgrims to visit the Sharda Peeth temple located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The opening of the corridor has been a long-standing demand of the Indian Hindu community as the temple holds immense significance in their religious beliefs. This move has been welcomed by the Indian community, but it has also raised concerns among the Pakistani authorities. This article explores the background, significance, and impact of India entering PoK through the Sharda Peeth Corridor.
Historic importance of Maa Sharda for Hindus
The Sharada script, which is thought to have sprung from the Sharda Peeth shrine in Kashmir, is also connected to Maa Sharda. The Sharada script, which is regarded as one of the oldest in the world, was widely used to write Kashmiri and Sanskrit.
Maa Sharda is revered in Hindu mythology as the personification of wisdom and knowledge, and it is said that she bestows intelligence, originality, and success in all of her followers’ endeavours. Before tests or significant academic assignments, students and scholars frequently pray to Maa Sharda, asking for her blessings for success and good fortune.
Overall, Maa Sharda is a well-known Hindu deity who stands for the value of study, education, and the power of knowledge.
Background of Sharda Peeth temple
In the village of Sharda in Kashmir that is occupied by Pakistan, there is a Hindu temple called the Sharda Peeth temple. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Saraswati, who is honoured as the goddess of education, music, and the arts, and is thought to have been founded in the 8th century AD. One of the holiest places in the Hindu religion, the temple is located on the banks of the Neelum River.
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An old Hindu temple to the goddess Saraswati is called Sharda Peeth. It is situated in the PoK town of Sharda and is thought to have been constructed by Hindu philosopher and theologian Adi Shankaracharya. One of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas—the most renowned temples in Hinduism—is thought to be this temple.
The Sharda Peeth temple was a renowned academic hub in the past, drawing academics from all around India and beyond. Together with Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Takshashila, it is believed to have been one of India’s four principal centres of learning. Hindus would travel great distances to the temple as a place of pilgrimage in order to obtain Saraswati’s blessings.
Hindus have not had access to the temple, nevertheless, for more than 70 years, ever since Pakistan and India were split apart in 1947. Due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, entry to the Sharda Peeth temple, which is situated in a territory under Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), has been restricted.
Significance of Sharda Peeth temple for Hindus
The Sharda Peeth temple is of great religious significance to the Hindu population in India. It is thought to be the location of the Saraswati temple, where the goddess of learning, music, art, and wisdom who is revered as Saraswati resides. The temple is regarded as a significant hub of Hindu philosophy and spirituality since it is also thought to be the location where Adi Shankaracharya attained knowledge.
The Sharda Peeth Corridor’s opening is regarded as a key milestone towards granting the Indian Hindu community’s long-standing request to enter the temple. It also represents India’s dedication to safeguarding its cultural legacy and fostering religious travel.
Hindus, especially those in the Kashmir region, place great value on the Sharda Peeth temple for a number of reasons:
It is thought to be one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, the most revered temples honouring the Devi or Shakti deity in Hinduism. These shrines are thought to be the locations where the goddess’ body pieces allegedly fell when Lord Shiva performed the cosmic dance of annihilation known as the Tandava, according to Hindu mythology.
The goddess Saraswati, adored as the patroness of learning, music, and the arts, is the subject of the temple. At the Sharda Peeth temple, Saraswati is worshipped in the belief that doing so will enable seekers to develop their knowledge, wisdom, and creativity.
The Sharada script, previously widely employed to write Kashmiri and Sanskrit, is thought to have originated in the temple. The Sharada script is regarded as one of the world’s oldest scripts and has a significant cultural and historical background.
The famed Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, who is thought to have paid the temple a visit in the eighth century AD, is also connected to the temple. Hindus hold Adi Shankaracharya in high regard as a great saint and philosopher who had a significant impact on the evolution of Hindu philosophy.
Attracting intellectuals from all over India and beyond, the temple was a renowned centre of learning in antiquity. According to legend, along with Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Takshashila, it was one of India’s four principal centres of learning.
To sum up, the Sharda Peeth temple is a revered location for Hindus with a significant cultural and historical background. For individuals looking to advance their spiritual and intellectual selves, it is highly valued as a site of learning, worship, and pilgrimage.
The Sharda Peeth Corridor
A projected holy route known as the Sharda Peeth Corridor would connect Pakistan and India via land under Pakistani occupation. It will be the second religious route connecting the two neighbouring countries in Pakistani-occupied territory after the Kartarpur Corridor. One of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, the Sharda Peeth temple is located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The 4.5-kilometer-long Sharda Peeth Corridor links the Indian Kargil district with the PoK town of Sharda. On October 23, 2021, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the corridor, calling it a “historic event” for the country’s Hindu community.
Recently, 22nd March 2023 on the eve of Navaratri’s 1st day Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt. Governer of Union Terrority of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha inaugrated Maa Sharda Devi temple virtually near LOC where idol of goddess Sharda Devi enunciated, the idol was brought from Karnataka’s Sringeri matha.
Home Minister ensure that there will be a kartarpur like corridor constructed in Jammu & Kashmir to reach the original Shakti Peeth of Sharda Devi which is located in Sharda village of PoK.
The corridor will make it possible for Indian tourists to travel to Jammu and Kashmir’s Sharda Peeth temple without needing a visa or crossing the Line of Control (LoC), which serves as the de facto boundary between India and Pakistan. The pilgrims will need to travel in a group with a pre-approved itinerary and have a valid identity card with them at all times.
The PoK government has advocated for allowing Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus residing in India to enter the revered Sharda Peeth temple. In a similar manner to how the Kartarpur corridor was established between the two nations, the Government of PoJK has requested that the Sharda Peeth corridor be opened as well, allowing pilgrims from India to make the journey.
Impact of the Sharda Peeth Corridor
The Indian Hindu community has welcomed the Sharda Peeth Corridor’s launch as a long-awaited milestone towards gaining access to their sacred locations. It is anticipated to increase religious tourism in the area and give the nearby villages a much-needed economic boost.
A proposed pilgrimage route known as the Sharda Peeth Corridor would cross Jammu and Kashmir’s Line of Control (LoC) to link Pakistan and India. The continuous strife and turmoil over Kashmir has made it difficult for the Indian government to realise its long-held goal of opening a pilgrimage corridor to Sharda Peeth for Hindu worshippers. Since Partition in 1947, the temple has been utterly uninhabited.
In order to facilitate pilgrimage from India, the government of PoK has proposed that the Sharda Peeth corridor be opened in a manner similar to the Kartarpur Corridor between the two nations.
When it opens, it will be the second religious route in Pakistan-occupied territory to link the two neighbouring countries, after the Kartarpur corridor.
However, the Pakistani government, on the other hand, is concerned about the action since they regard it as an infringement on their territorial sovereignty. Pakistan has voiced its opposition to India’s action and charged that India is hiding its territorial aspirations in the area behind religious tourism.
Conclusion
An important step towards promoting religious travel and protecting India’s cultural legacy is the opening of the Sharda Peeth Corridor. It stands as a testament to India’s dedication to fostering regional peace and harmony. To achieve a peaceful resolution to the political tensions between India and Pakistan, it is crucial to take note of the authorities’ worries and engage in constructive conversation.
Encouraging religious travel can help a nation in numerous ways, including economic development, the creation of jobs, and cross-cultural interaction. Also, it can promote a better knowledge and appreciation of many cultures and religions, resulting in increased harmony and tolerance.
Equally crucial is maintaining cultural heritage since it fosters a sense of identity and ties to the past. Also, it offers a forum for intercultural debate and interaction, enabling people of all origins to understand and respect one another’s cultural customs.
If the Sharda Peeth Corridor were to be opened, it might give Hindus a chance to reconnect with their cultural roots and individuals from both India and Pakistan a chance to engage in discussion and cultural exchange. To resolve any potential political issues between the two nations peacefully, it is crucial to address any worries and sensitivities of the Pakistani authorities and to participate in a constructive discourse.
FAQs
Q. What is the significance of the Sharda Peeth temple for Hindus?
A. The Sharda Peeth temple is considered to be an important center of Hindu philosophy and spirituality. It is believed to be the place where the goddess Saraswati resides and is worshipped as the goddess of knowledge, music, art, and wisdom. It is also regarded as the place where Adi Shankaracharya received his enlightenment.
Q. What is the Sharda Peeth Corridor?
A. The Sharda Peeth Corridor is a 4.5-kilometer-long route that connects the Kargil district of India to the Sharda town in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It was opened in October 2021 to allow Indian pilgrims to visit the Sharda Peeth temple located in PoK.
Q. Why has the Sharda Peeth temple been inaccessible to Hindus?
A. The Sharda Peeth temple has been inaccessible to Hindus for over seven decades due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. The temple is located in a region that is under the control of Pakistan, and access to the temple has been restricted.
Q. What is the impact of the Sharda Peeth Corridor?
A. The opening of the Sharda Peeth Corridor is expected to boost religious tourism in the region and provide a much-needed economic stimulus to the local communities. However, it has also raised concerns among the Pakistani authorities, who see it as a violation of their sovereignty over the region.
Q. What is the significance of the Sharda Peeth Corridor for India?
A. The Sharda Peeth Corridor is seen as a significant step towards fulfilling the long-standing demand of the Indian Hindu community to access the Sharda Peeth temple. It is also a symbol of India’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage and promoting religious tourism in the region.
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