Top 10 Interesting Facts about Sharda Peeth

Ruins of the Sharada Peeth. Image by Irfan Ahmed (Black-z-ro)-Wikimedia

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Sharda Peeth

Sharda Peeth is a ruined Hindu temple and ancient center of learning located in Kashmir, Pakistan. It is considered among the most prominent temple universities in the world. It is also an ancient temple of Sharda.

It is situated in the mountains some 200 kilometers away from Muzaffarabad, the capital and largest city of Pakistan. It lies right across the Line of Control in a small village, Shardi or Sardi, where the river Neelam (Kishanganga) converges with the Madhumati and Sargun streams.

1. A lot is speculated about its origin

Photo by RAHIB RAZA MALIK-Wikimedia

There isn’t much evidence to pinpoint the temple’s origin. However, it is believed to have been constructed during the Kushan Empire in the early 1st century.

According to one theory, its origin goes back to the time when Kashmiri Pandits transformed the land into a center of learning, known as Sharada Peeth or Sarvajnanpeetha.

Another theory is that the temple was constructed by Raja Lalitaditya since it resembles the Martand temple in Anantnag closely in architecture, design, and construction style. The latter was also commissioned by Lalitaditya.

Another legend is that goddess Sharda saved the pot of knowledge during a war between good and evil. She carried the pot to the valley and hid it in a deep pit. She then turned herself into a structure to cover the pot. The structure now stands as Sharada Peeth.

2. The Peeth is also a historical seat of learning

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It was among the most prominent temple universities in the Indian subcontinent between the 6th and 12th centuries CE. Sharada University is one of the country’s oldest universities.

It was formerly on par with Nalanda and Takshila’s ancient sites of learning. Along with teaching Buddhist religion, history, geography, structural science, logic, and philosophy were also taught.

This university had developed its script, Sharada. There were 5,000 resident scholars at one point, and it also had the world’s largest library.

3. This temple university was not for commoners but elite students

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Scholars from far-off places used to visit the place between the sixth and 12th centuries to gain knowledge. It was not a university or learning place for the common people. Only selected students from the then-elite would come here to learn about philosophy, science, and religion.

Scholars, Philosophers, and Translators such as Adi Shankara, Kalhana, Virotsana Kalhana, Adi Shankara, Vairotsana, Kumarajiva, and Thonmi Sambhota, all studied here.

It is responsible for the development and popularisation of the Sharada script. Many major Sanskrit manuscripts were written here, and it was a significant location for Sanskrit academics.

4. Sharada Peeth is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths

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The Shakti Peeths are significant shrines and pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism, that focus on the goddess Adi Shakti.

Various legends explain how the Shakti Peethas came into existence. The most popular is based on the story of the death of the goddess Sati. Out of grief and sorrow, Lord Shiva carried Sati’s body, reminiscing about their moments as a couple. He roamed around the universe with it.

Lord Vishnu had cut her body into 51 body parts, using his Sudarshana Chakra, which fell on Earth to become sacred sites where all the people can pay homage to the Goddess. To complete this massively long task, Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairava. Sati’s right hand fell here.

5. It does not have a deity

Sharada Peeth is one of the three holiest sites of pilgrimage for Kashmiri Pandits. The temple is particularly revered by Kashmiri Pandits because they consider goddess Sharda their deity.

However, the temple does not have a deity but large stone slabs inside the unadorned temple. It is said that a Shivling, a symbolic idol of Lord Shiv, once rested just outside the shrine. The stairway leading to the shrine is around 10 feet in width and each step is more than a foot in height and 2 to 3 feet deep.

6. It remained deserted from 1947

After the partition in 1947, the ancient Sharda Peeth temple and its compound were damaged in tribal attacks. Since then, this land was lying deserted. But the majority community, who are Muslims, kept this piece of land as it is. In the year 2021, the villagers handed over this land to Kashmiri Pandits when they reached the Neelam river for the annual Sharda Peeth Yatra and worship.

7. Restoration is being done by a Muslim

Image by Volker Glätsch from Pixabay

The temple is currently being restored.  The most interesting thing is that this temple, gurdwara, and mosque are being constructed by a local Muslim of Titwal. Titwal thinks that it is rewarding work and that only the people of the villages are involved in its construction.

For a long time, Kashmiri Pandits have demanded a corridor similar to Kartarpur. A few locals gave up the barely touched piece of land.

On March 28, 2022, the construction of the Mata Sharda temple started. Officials of the Save Sharda Committee said that we want to set an example of brotherhood here.

8. The land about the temple has been under Muslims for over 75 years

After 75 years of taking care of the property belonging to the Hindu community, Muslims returned the land for the construction of the Mata Sharda temple in the Teetwal belt close to the Line of Control.

The residents of Titwal believe that it was a trust of a Hindu community that they kept alive and guarded the land for seven decades and gave them back when they went back.

Locals are in support of religious cohesion and for all people to live harmoniously. Tiwal had lost its glory but the construction of this temple might be what it has always needed to be prosperous again.

9. It brings together Muslims, Hindus, and even Buddhists

After restoration and conservation, the site is bound to attract thousands of Hindus and Buddhists from occupied Kashmir (Indian-administered Kashmir) and the rest of the world.

The Muslims maintained and gave it up to the Kashmir Pandits. The message of brotherhood is seen in this act.

Sharda Peeth isn’t only connected to Hinduism but the people following Buddhism also believe in this a lot. The renovated temple will see all sorts of religious people come to pay homage.

The site was fundamentally revered by the Buddhists as it was their place of learning before it was converted into a Hindu temple.

10. Sharda Peeth means as much as Mecca means to Muslims

Sharda Peeth is considered the “Maha Shakti Peeth,” most powerful it is worshiped as the greatest religious place.  It is the highest pilgrimage place for Kashmiri Pandits and followers of Adhi Shankariyachariya.

There used to be an annual pilgrimage till 1947.  There have been talks for the last 15 years that the annual pilgrimage should be started again like the Kartarpur corridor is opened. The Hindus want pilgrimage tourism between India and Pakistan.

Save Sharda Peeth Committee is planning a huge festival on the annual pilgrimage day in total. Many central and state politicians are also supporting the reopening of the Shardah Peeth pilgrimage.