A quiet excavation in north Kashmir has unearthed a truth long buried under the soil and the shadows of contemporary conflict. When archaeologists began digging at Zehanpora in Baramulla, guided by an archival photograph from a French museum, they uncovered Kushan-period Buddhist remains that are forcing a historical reassessment. This discovery, a collaborative effort by the J&K Department of Archives, Kashmir University, and the Union Ministry of Culture, brings into sharp focus a question often ignored: How central was Kashmir to the global journey of Buddhism?
From Sacred Geography to Intellectual Hub
For many, Buddhism's story is anchored to four sacred sites in the Gangetic plains: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar. However, Buddhism transformed into a world religion not just through pilgrimage but through the transmission of ideas, texts, and philosophical debates. In this expansive narrative, Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh hold a profoundly significant, yet understated, position.
The roots run deep to the Mauryan era, traditionally linked to Emperor Ashoka, who is credited with founding Srinagar and building early monasteries and stupas in the region. Kashmir's unique geography, acting as a bridge between the Indian heartland, the Indus-Gandhara region, and the Himalayan corridors, made it a perfect conduit for cultural and spiritual exchange across Asia.
Kashmir: The Crucible of Buddhist Philosophy
Ancient texts revered Kashmir as Sharada Pitha, a premier seat of learning. The Kashmiri engagement with Buddhism was intensely intellectual and dialectical. It was here that the philosophical sophistication of the Buddha's message was rigorously honed.
The significance peaked during the Kushan period—the very era of the Zehanpora finds. Under Emperor Kanishka, Kashmir is believed to have hosted the Fourth Buddhist Council, a landmark event presided over by Vasumitra and attended by luminaries like Ashvaghosha. This council was instrumental in systematising and propelling Mahayana Buddhism, with its emphasis on compassion and the Bodhisattva ideal, across Asia. From Kashmir, these ideas travelled to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and beyond, making the region a crucial launchpad for the faith's global spread.
This legacy is materially reinforced by discoveries like the Gilgit Manuscripts, among the world's oldest surviving Buddhist texts, which underscore Kashmir's role as a custodian of sacred knowledge.
A Lasting Legacy in Culture and Thought
The influence of Buddhist thought, particularly its "Middle Path," permeated Kashmir's spiritual landscape long after the monasteries faded. The later Sufi-Rishi movement, exemplified by the poetry of Lal Ded (1320–1392 CE) and Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (1377–1440 CE), echoes Buddhist values of moderation, compassion, and inner discipline. This synthesis formed the bedrock of Kashmir's unique syncretic culture, or kashmiriyat.
For decades, narratives of terrorism and conflict have overshadowed Kashmir's profound civilisational identity. The Zehanpora excavation serves as a powerful invitation to reframe the region. It reminds us that Kashmir was not merely a passive thoroughfare but a dynamic centre where Buddhism debated, evolved, and radiated outward, shaping the moral and philosophical vocabulary of a vast part of the ancient world.
