Sharda Peeth

Sharda Peeth Temple, Neelum Valley

The Sharda Peeth Temple, situated in Sharda town in Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir, is an ancient Kashmiri temple from the Hindu period. Scholars estimate that Sharda Peeth Temple was constructed around 8th Century during the zenith of Hindu Temple Architecture period and has similar features to other Kashmir Hindu temples built during the same period in the larger Kashmir region. The architectural remains of this complex are found in the village of Śharda, Neelum Valley at a distance of 130km from Muzaffarabad, and have been conventionally identified by scholars as a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Sarada. It was a temple as well a center of religious education. As per account, Sharda temple was one of the most prominent temple universities in the Indian subcontinent and pilgrims visited the place from all over India.

The temple is part of the three famous Tirthas of Kashmir, alongside the temple at Martand and the holy cave at Lord Amarnath, and has historically remained one of the holiest places for Hindu Pandits. Some historians contend that similarities between Sharda Peeth and the Martand Sun Temple suggest that King Lalitaditya may have constructed both of these structures in the eighth century AD. Sharda Peeth was also a center of pilgrimage for Hindus who believed that the temple was the abode of the Goddess Saraswati, the deity of learning and wisdom. Over the centuries, it welcomed many historical and religious figures, including the renowned Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya.

Sharda Peeth Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Sarada 

The Sharda Peeth Temple's earliest reference is found in the Puranas. The famous Nilamata Purana, an ancient Sanskrit work from Kashmir, deals with the Tīrathas (sacred places) and rituals of Kashmir. By the 11th century, Sharda Peeth was among the most revered places of worship in the Indian subcontinent, as described in Al-Beruni's chronicle of India. Notably, Al-Biruni mentioned it not in his description of Kashmir but in his list of the most famous Hindu temples in the Indian subcontinent, alongside the Multan Sun Temple, the Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, and the Somnath temple. Historically, Kashmir has been part of various empires and influenced by different religious traditions. It was part of the Kushan Empire in the second century C.E. and was under Buddhist influence as early as the Ashokan period. The famous Chinese monk, Xuanzang, who traveled across India in the 7th century, documented the status of Buddhism in Kashmir. Despite these influences, the worship of Shakti and the reverence for the Goddess Sharda remained central to Kashmiri Hinduism.

There are also many myths and legends surrounding the site. One popular folk tale involves a giant who fell in love with a princess. When she expressed her desire for a palace at the site, the giant began constructing it. However, he could not complete the roof before the morning prayer (Azan), marking the end of his working period. As a result, the temple remains roofless to this day, according to the legend.

Dedicated to Goddess Sharda or Saraswati

Sharda Peeth Temple, Neelum Valley

The Sanskrit etymology of "Sharda" provides further insight into the site's importance. The Sharda Peeth Temple, meaning "Seat of Sharda," is dedicated to the Kashmiri Goddess 'Sharada', another name for the Hindu goddess Saraswati, who is regarded by Hindus as the goddess of learning and knowledge. Kashmir has long been a center for Shakti worship, with numerous shrines dedicated to the worship of the mother goddess. Sarada, the goddess of learning, has been particularly venerated in Kashmir. The Nilmatpurana, an ancient Kashmiri text, describes the Sharda temple as a temple of Durga also, indicating that Sarada is also worshipped as Durga in Kashmir. Goddess Sarada holds a celebrated position among Kashmiri Pandit Hindus, with Hindu Pandits offering reverence to her through the recitation of ‘Sarada Wardha Devi Mukhdata Saraswati Namaste Namaste Namaste Namo Nama’, which translates to ‘Goddess Sarada, one who grants boons of learning, scholarship, and liberation from worldly woes, I bow to her’.

Ancient Sharda University & Sharda Script

In ancient times, Sharda Peeth functioned as a university and a center of learning, playing a crucial role in the development and popularization of the Sharada script in North India, leading to the script being named after it. Some sources also refer to Sharda as a Buddhist University, however its Hindu roots are more likely as the architecture is similar to other Kashmiri Hindu temples in the region. The Sharda temple has played a significant historical role in Kashmiri Pandit religious culture and is believed to be the earliest shrine dedicated to Shaktism. The temple was an essential center of the Kashmir Shaivism tradition of Hinduism and served as an important center of learning, offering teachings in various fields, such as philosophy, theology, mathematics, and linguistics.