"Because of its unique geographical location the Kashmir Valley has been a meeting ground of diverse races and cultures through the centuries". Examine how Kashmir has contributed to India's art and culture.

Kashmir’s geographical location explains its cultural history. On the other hand its isolation brings out its originality of Kashmiri thought. Apart from Abhinavagupta’s works, the following works are also the remarkable contributions made by the people of Kashmir to the Indian culture.

• Charaka is well known as the “father of medicine” who authored Charaka Samhita.
• Kalhana’s Rajtarangani documents the history of Kashmir.
  In the 14th century the sufis in Kashmir had introduced the traditions of love, amity and compassion. They professed that God is one and omnipresent.
• A book called Yoga Vasishtha from Kashmir in the field of cosmology and science is a book of instruction on the nature of consciousness.
  Kashmir has been an important centre for the development and spread of Buddhism.
• Sarangadeva, the author of Sangita Rathnakara, was probably a Kashmirian.
• Kalidasa, the Shakespeare of India, is believed to be from Kashmir.
• Bhallata has written Beellata-sataka in 108 stanzas, dealing with morality and conduct.
• Finally, Kashmir has been a great seat of learning. Shaivite philosophers like Abhinavagupta and Vasugupta propounded a new theory on Shaivism. Sanskrit scholars like Panini and Patanjali lived in Kashmir.

Through all these examples, we can rightly observe the contribution of Kashmir in the field of art and culture.

Topics: GS-I: Indian Art Forms