Indrakshi Namsa Devi

Indrakshi Namsa Devi Davetai Samudha Raeta

Gauri shah kambhari devi Durga naam-nati vae-shruta

Kantya-yane Mahadevi Chandre-ganta Maha-taepa

Gayatri Sa chae Savitri Brahmani brah-meva vae-dini

Narayane Badrikaeli Rudhraeni Krishne pen-gaela

Aghi-na-jwala Roudra-mukhi kalee-ratre tapas-swaeni

Meghsha-ma sahas-trakshi Vishnu maya jalodari

Maho-dhari mukte-kaeshi ghor-rupa maha-bhaela

Ananda badre-jananta rog-hantri shiv-priya

Shiv-duti karali chae pratak-shya parmae-shauri

Indrani chandre-rupa chae indra-shakti para-yaena

Mahe-shasur sam-hartri chamunda gharb-devta

Varahe narsimhi chae bhima bharav-nandani

Shruti-simriti dhriti medha vidhya laxhmi saraswati

Ananata vijya purna manas-tosha aapra-jaeyta

Bhawani parvati durga hamvati ambika-shiva

Sadha samohani devi sundri bhubneshwari

Shiva bhavani rudhrani shankra-radh shari-reini

Sarve mangal manglay shive sarvarth sadhikay

Sharnay tre-yambhikay gauri narayani na-mus-tute

Om Maha-balay mahot-sahe maha-bhai vinash-ni

Trahi-ma devi dush-prakshay shatruna bhai-vardhini

Kaw Punim

Kaw Punim is one of the unique festivals of the Kashmiri Hindus. The full moon of the lunar month Magha is also known as Purnima of the crow. Two sticks are tied in the shape of a cross and on the open ends of the cross grass is woven to make a long handled flat spoon. Again after some pooja, yellow rice is served on this spoon to be offered to the crow. The children sing a melodious song while making the offering to the crow. The song loosely translated reads thus:

Kaw Bhatt Kawo,
Khechrey Kawo.
Gangabala Sharana Karith,
Gurey Mechey Tyoka Karith.
Walbha Saney Larey Pyeth,
Dal Bata Khyene

(O clever crow;  
O, the lover of khichri, crow;  
Come to our new house along with your spouse;  
Be seated on the threshold of our roof – 
And partake of the salty pudding)

This festival is indicative of the love that the Kashmiris have had for the birds and the care they took of them. It may be worth mentioning that every Kashmiri household will scatter some cooked rice on a wooden shelf kept outside the house everyday before serving food to any member of the house. This shelf kept near the top right hand corner of the window is called Kaw paet - a shelf for the crow. Likewise every person keeps apart a little rice from his or her plate to be fed to the dogs. This is called Hoonya myet - the roll of rice for the dog. This shows the compassionate nature of the Kashmiris for the animal world. No doubt the Gita defines a Pandit as one who treats equally a well read Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a downcast chandala who devours dog-flesh.

Temples of Kashmir-Kashyapa Valley-Satisar

Mata kheer Bhawani Ragnyadevi

Tulla Mulla gandarbal

Ruins of ancient temple Avantipora

Vishnu and Sun temples abound here

Shiva and Rragnya devi

close up of Kheer Bhawani

Mata Devi Local Deity Pari mahal Srinagar

Uphill the Dara Shikoh built restored by the ASI on Pari mahal hill road we found the entry to this ancient shrine

Legend of local Mata rani deity Pari mahal

Local deity since medivial times

Durga Naag mandir city center Srinagar

Opposite Kohlee's Hotel good place to stay at Dal gate

Temples of Anantnag

Pandawas are supposed to have build these

Mohinishwar Shiva Temple -meadows center,Gulmarg

Jai jai Shiv Shankar song filmed here..

Many such writings on the wall stones seen in Kashmir

Just read such stone writings all over Kashmir ,i hope even POK.

Devi temple in Srinagar

If you manage to open locks go inside many temples in the city of devi SRI. Srinagar you will see many idols still intact

Mammaleshwar Shiva enroute Amarnath

To see this drive uphill left the bridge..as you enter the Phal-Pahel gaon enroute Amarnath shrine..

Shiva Temple Pahelgaon 2

The facade of Mammaleshwar Shiva temple is maintained by the ASI well

Shiva Darshan Mammaleshwar temple

Pahalgaon uphill ASI maintained site

Shaarkaa Devi temple on hari parbat south

easier approach from down devi chowk is now more difficult as Pandits have left..their homes around this Hindu area once..was..

tri pura sundari icon Sri yantra hotspot

Compare Adee Shankaras treatment of yantra at Chadra badani where he put a stone slab over it to stop yantra worship..Abhinava Gupta reigned in Kashmir so this form not nirgun but with aakaar a yantraa..??

Devi Darshan

The Main Devi at top temple on hari Parbat the fort crown of kashmir valley

Hari Parbat main shrine on top

Take special permission from Nigin CLUB office of jktdc then go climb hari parbat to see two main shrines

One of the many Locked temples Badam wari

Amar Kaul Temple locked at base hari parbat north end gate no 2 Badam warii.

Spires of so many temples praying for revival Temple sires seen at Badam wari

Pahelgaon central temple

Shiva Shakti temple Phalgaon

Sonmarg Shiva Shaktee temple

Army maintains so many of the temples as men who fight gaurd the nation and its borders internal security needs place of worship too. Many others i failed to go and click ..for you to go and add to this album..Temples of kashyapa valley Kashmir

Kashmiri Pandit Gotras and their Surnames

Dattatreya - Koul, nagari ,jinsi, jalali, watal, sultan, ogra, aima, moza, daunat, tota, basih, kissu, mandhal, sangari, rafiz, balav, drabi, bamzai, sharga

Upma - Revu

Doha - Razdan

Kanth Daumya - Razdan, Wangni, muju, sher

Swamin mudgli - Zabeh, Razdan, Mushran, channa, kanth, Khazanchi, hast, valav, monga, devani, jattu, zotan, pout, shora, lala (razdan)

Swamin gautam - Gurutu, Razdan, Thaplu, naqeb, tehlachar,kak, labru, parman, zarmi, padura, langar, changru,khosa, kakapori, badam, raina, qazi, challu, pyala

Swamin gautam logaksh - Jokhu,razdan

Swamani Bhardawaj - Tikku, munshi, kahar, miskeen, ghadiyali, bazari, khan

Paldev vaas gargyey - Shivpuri, pandit, malla, pattu, mirkhor, kadalbujju, kokru, hangru, pandit(thuthu), Bhavnu, bakaya, khushu, Kitchu, Misri, Khar, Mam

Pat saas Kaushik - Ganju, Kuchru, Solu, Jattu, Ambardar, Kuli, Vaishnavi, Brabu, Musalman, Kapan, Wanchu, Miya, Jawansher, Jalla, Panju, Mattu, Fotedar

Devpat Samin - Upmanyu, Kaushik, Shivpuri

Devpat Upmanyu - Khosu, Mewa, Pandit

Bhav Kapishthal upmanyu - Wani, Khan

Samin Vaas Upmanyu - Dullu

Rajparashar - Razdan

Swamin vaaas upmanyu - Bhat, Wali

Swamin Upmanyu - Giggu

Kash Upmanyu - Bhat

Bhootvas upmanyu logaksh - Peshin, Zalpuri, Thakur

Rajbhoot Logaksh Deval -  Bhan

Ratri Bhargava - Zithshu

Bhoot Logaksh Dhomya Gautam - Handu

Devsamin Gautam Kaushik Mudgalya Bhardawaj - Pandit, cukil

Swamin Mudhgaliya Parashar - Geeru

Swamin Vaas - Tufchi

Warivas - Sahni

Vashisth Gargeya - Pandita

Swamin Kaushik - Thakar, Watal

Swamin Bhargava - Bali, Batav

Swamin Kaushik Bhardawaj - Bhat, Kokru

Swamin shandelya - Pandit, Vaas

Swamin Vaas Atreya - Thussu, Ghazi, Waza

Swamin Gautam Atreya shalan Kotass - Raina

Swamin Gautam Atreya - Cholu

Swamin Kanth Kashyap - Labru

Swamin Gargeya - Machama

Swamin Gan Bhoshak - Paveh

Swamin Gautam Bhardawaj - Kamdha

Swamin Vaas Logaksh - Taav

Dharbhardawaj - Dhar trisal,Misri, jawansher, Kandhari, Thalchur, Othu, Turki, Waguzari, Bangi

Vashisht Bhardawaj - Bhat, Hakhu, Handoo

Dev Bhardawaj - Bhat, Mhad, Kallu

Sharman Bhardawaj - Bhat

Dev Baraj Kaushik - Deva

Shandilya Bhardawaj - Bhat

Nand Kaushik Bhardawaj - Bhat

Kaushik Bhardawaj - Bhat

Shandli - Kar

Chand Shandli - Sadhu

Varshandli - Jogi

Varvasak Shandli - Safaya

Vardev Shelan Kapi - Mota

Mitr Shandli - Sayd

Dev Shandli - Batphool

Raj Shandli - Vakh

Sam Shandli - Bhat

Swamin Rishi Kani Gargeya - Kaul, Kamzhat

Shelan Kautas - Telvan, Kaul, Mukku

Kauts Atreya - Bhat, Razdan

Rajdhatt Atreya Shalan Kautas - Bhat

Sharman Atreya - Gadhu

Bhav Atreya - Wariku

Swamin Warshikran - Katju, Kaw, Chouthai

Bhav Kapishithl - Kaw

Ratr Vishwamitr Agasth - Trakru, Mattu

Dhar Keshtal - Ladav, Bhat

Kanth Kashyap - Wasav, Razdan, Bhat

Mitr Kashyap - Bhat  Kheda

Dhatsharman Kanth Kashyap - Bradu, Raina

Dev Kashyap Mudhgalya Kashyap - Bradu

Dev Kashyap Mudhgalya Gautam - Aakhan

Swamin Bhargava Bhardawaj Aus Atri - Kallu

Dev Gargi - Bahan

Dev Vashisht - Akbhalu

Dev Kauts Atreya - Badgami

Dev Vishwamitr Varshigan - Wangoo

Dev Gautam - Bhat

Dev Kath Kashyap - Kar

Dev Logaksh - Pandit, Santapori

Dev Kaushik - Bhat

Arth Varishan Shandalya - Chaudhari

Kaushik - Bhat

Pat samin Kaushik dev ratr parvar - Pandit, Vayil

Vashisht - Bhat, Rangateng

Ratr Vishwamitr Agasth - Pandit

Kar Chand Shandliya - Chaudhari, Kar

Mitra Kaushik - Pandit

Sharmatakauts - Bhat, Sas

Dhatvas - Kahaar

Vashisht Swamin Mudhgalya - Bhandari

Ishwar Shandilya Kaushik - Rawal, Nakhasi

Dhat Dhat Shelan Kauts - Bhat, Sathu, Kasba, Malik, Kahkashu

Ratr Varshgan - Kotar

Parashar - Pachih

Aatr Bhargav - Happa

Bhoot Logaksh - Pandit

Raj Vashisht - Shanglu

Dhat Varshiman - Sanar

Rishi Kaushik - Kashkari

Rishi Kavigarg - Zaroo

Samvas Gargh - Bhat, Sam

Nand Kaushik - Bhat

Swamin Mudhgaliya - Madan

Swamin Haswasi - Khan, Katu

Bhav Kapishthal - Radu,Kalla, Sapan, Lattu, Kattu, Wantu, Chur, Chudhar,Geeru, Hakin, Wangnu,Shav

Bhav Kapishthal Upmanyu - Katharu

Swamin Vas Logaksh - Chathu

Dhar bhardawaj - Zangam

Bhoot Upmanya - Khirabri, Braru, Saidha, uppal

Swamin Atreya - Shaal, Handu, jadwaali, sik, chak

Shandaliya - Shayir

Swaminvaas Gargi - Sum,Nand, Gadhwa, Datt, Halmat, Langoo

Swamin Ghosh Vas Upmanyu - Chaku

Sharman Kauts Atreya - Ragu, Nand, Gadhwa, Datt

Dev Parashar - Yachh

Kanth Daumya - Kaw, Bredh,

Dhar Varshiman - Safaya, Bakshi, Kuchru, Shali

Dhar Kapishthal Upmanyu - Meech

Mitra Swamin Kaushik Atreya - Pandit, Handu

Vasudev Palgargya - Patwari

Pat swamin Kaushik - Kanna, Kitru, Darbari,Wali, Ganhar,Saraf,

Rishikany Gargeya - Goja

DevBhardwaj - Mawa, Gadru

Vashisht Vishwamitr - Trakru

Swamin Gautam - Taimini

Upmanyu Kaushik - Sapru

Nand Gautam Kashyap - Bhat

Raz Kaushik - Bhat

Upmanyo Logakshi - Dhobi, Karihaloo

Ghosh Vachya Upmanyu - Pandita

Devdat Gautam Kaushik Bhardawaj - Pandit

Shalakayan - Pathwari

Ratn Kawach - Raina

Raj Parashar - Razdan

Karshandalya - Shishu

Devkashyap - Chatta

Ratr Vishwamitr Vasishth - Trakru

Dhar Shalkya - Dhar

Kaal - Maatu, Bhindru(mattu)

Devshandilya - Jaan, Teenglu

Swamin Vashisht - Kothedar

Dhar Kapishthal Manav - Bhootnath, Jyotshi

Vishnu Atreya - Bhan

Vishwa mitr Agasthya - Razdan 

Samanth - Hakhu

Okus Bokus

Okus Bokus is actually a Kashmiri Lullaby. The word Okus Bokus over the centuries got corrupted from Hukus Bukus which means who is he and who is me OR Tchekus BeKus again maining who are you and who are me.

The translation is done here.

Tse Kus Be Kus Teli Wan su Kus 

Who are you and who am I then tell us who is he the creator that permeates through both you and I

Moh Batuk Logum Deg

Each day I feed my senses/body with the food of worldly attachment and material love (Moh = attachment)

Shwas Khich Khich Wang-mayam

For when the breath that I take in reaches the point of complete purification (Shwas = Breath)

Bhruman daras Poyun chokum

It feels like my mind is bathing in the water of divine love (Bhruman = nerve center in the human brain, poyun = water)

Tekis Takya bane Tyuk

Then I know I am like that sandal wood which is pasted for divine fragrance symbolic of universal divinity. I realize that I am, indeed, divine (Tyuk = Tika applied on the forehead).

The message of this poem is rooted in Kashmiri spiritual tradition. The poem itself is ageless. Some say it came up during Lal Ded’s time, other’s say it dates back to the origin of Kashmir and Kashmiri culture itself. The poem, in later years, was made a song for children. For years it served as a poetic medium to pass down the essence of Kashmiri culture to little ones.

It is said that the tones produced by the arrangement of words in this poem as well as its rhythm has a calming effect for infants and toddlers of all times.

Zang Trai

Zang Trai falls on the 3rd day of the Navreh. On this day all the Kashmiri Pandit Women visit their parental house as a ritual and on their return their parents give them salt and atghat (some money) as a token of prosperity and good omen.

Zang Trai is associated with the first unit of ascent in the Shakti tradition of Kashmir, Known as Vagbhava koot. The nine days of Navaratra are divided in "Three units of deliberation", the First Deliberation is revered as the Vagbhava Koot, the source of Vaakh Parampara (tradition) in Kashmir. The Rishikaas (wives of Sapta Rishis) would hold their own deliberations for their spiritual enlightenment and social awareness. This type of socio-spiritual gathering was convened by the parents of the Rishikas. A wonderful social interaction and respect for daughters is seen in this deliberation.

The Devi Kavacham also establishes that Zang/Jangha in Sanskrit is the abode of Sarva Kaama Pradayini Devi. Here Kaama means the inner recesses of the heart filled with love and dedication. 

Navreh

Kashmiri Pandits celebrate their New Year’s Day on the first day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra (March–April) and call it Navreh - the word navreh, derived from the Sanskrit ‘nava varsha’, literary meaning ‘new year’. The Kashmiri Pandit families that migrated to the plains before 1900 also celebrate Navreh with great pride. On the eve of Navreh, a platter of unhusked rice with a bread, a cup of yogurt, a little salt, a little sugar candy, a few walnuts or almonds, a silver coin, a pen, a mirror, some flowers (rose, marigold, crocus, or jasmine) and the new panchanga or almanac is kept and seen as the first thing on waking up in the morning. This ritual is more or less the same as the Haft Sin of the Iranian and Zoroastrian Nowruz. The Bhringisha Samhita says that the platter should be of bronze (kansyapatraka). The same ritual is observed on Sonth or the Kashmiri spring festival.

The Saptarshi Era of the Kashmiri Hindu calendar is believed to have started on this very day, some 5079 years ago. According to the legend, the celebrated Sapta Rishis assembled on the Sharika Parvata (Hari Parbat), the abode of the goddesss Sharika, at the auspicious moment when the first ray of the sun fell on the Chakreshvara on this day and paid tribute to her. Astrologers made this moment as the basis of their calculations of the nava varsha pratipada, marking the beginning of the Saptarshi Era. Before their exodus Kashmiri Pandits would flock to Hari Parbat in thousands to celebrate Navreh.

Kashmir History

Sage Kashyap made the land of Kashmir habitable. His son Neel became the first ruler of Kashmir. (This must have occured sometime around the time of king Barhi, long before 10,000 BC.) Detail records of his rule are available in Neelmat Purana.

Gonand Dynasty

Gonand-I (king of Kashmir) fought for Jarasandh against Krishna. Krishna killed Jarasandh, and Balaram killed Gonand-I. His son Damodar attacked Krishna, to avenge his father's death. Damodar was killed by Krishna in the battle. Krishna installed Damodar's wife Yashowati on the throne of Kashmir. Queen Yashowati gave birth to Gonand-II a few months after the death of Damodar. 35 Gonand kings ruled Kashmir after Gonand-II.

Pandava Dynasty

23 kings of Pandava dynasty also ruled Kashmir. During the rule of Pandava king Bhimsen, the Kashmir border extended from Kanyakubja (Kanauj) to Gandhar (Afghanistan). A later King Ashoka (not to be confused with Maurya Ashoka) built the city of Srinagari (Srinagar). Jalok the son of king Ashok proved to be a very brave genral and an able administrator. The administrative setup made by him continued for the next 300 years without an able king.

100 AD:

Kashmir came under the rule of Kushan king Kanishka. Kanishka became a Buddhist and under him Buddhism spread to Afghanistan and Turkey.

Early 600s:

After the attack of Huns, Mehrkul became the ruler of Kashmir. He was a very cruel king. But the teachings of Shaiva Pandits made him calmer. Mehrkul became a worshipper of Shiva. A Shiva temple built by him Mehrashwar (Mamleshwar) stands in Pahalgam. Years after his death, Vikramaditya (of Ujjain) sent his minister Pratapaditya to head the state of Kashmir.

Karkota Dynasty ruled Kashmir for 254 years. Durlabhvardhan is a famous king of this dynasty. During Harshavardhan's rule, Kashmir was a tributary state. King Chandradeep of this dynasty defeated the Arabs in 713 AD.

Other notable kings of Kashmir during this period were: Meghawan (fought against animal sacrifice), Lalitaditya (who extended the boundries of Kashmir) and the father-son-grandson trio: Avantivarman, Shankarvarman and Gopalvarman.

950 AD, Queen Didda:

Didda was queen of the Kashmir king Khemgupta. She ruled Kashmir as a queen, guardian and ruler for 54 years (950-1003 AD). She crowned her nephew Sangramraj as the king of Kashmir. Sangramraj defeated Mohd. Gazanavi in 1015AD. Mohd. Gazanavi was defeated again in 1021 AD by joint efforts of Trilochanpal (the last Hindu ruler of Kabul) and Sangramraj.

Kota Rani:

Rinchan a Buddhist fugitive from Tibet was given shelter and a key administrative post by the king Sahadev. After a revolt Sahadev fled to Tibet. Rinchan killed the Army chief Ramchandra, and became the king of Kashmir.

Rinchan converted to Islam and adopted the name Malik Sadruddin. After him his queen Kotarani (daughter of Ramachandra) became the queen of Kashmir. Sahadev's brother Udayandev returned to Kashmir with an army. Kotarani offered to marry him and make him the king of Kashmir. Though Udayandev became the king, Kotarani conducted all the administration. She later defeated the Persian Sardar Tatar when he attacked Kashmir.

In 1343 Shahmir (a Muslim religious preacher) killed this brave queen Kotarani and became the king of Kashmir.

1343 - 1819 AD: The Islamic Tranny

During the rule of Shahmir, Islamic people started pouring into Kashmir. Among him and the later muslim rulers like Sikander, Saifuddin, Fateh Shah, Moosa Raina, Sultan Hassan Khan, Hyder Shah, Iftihar Khan, Azad Khan, Mir Hajjar Khan, Subedar Assad Khan it would be difficult to name the worst. They started the conversion of Hindus to Muslim. Islamic foundation was laid by hundreds of Muslim preachers who were invited from central Asia. Later force was used for conversion. Kashmir had many Hindu temples; which were wonders of architecture. Filled with jealousy and hatred Sikander destroyed about 300 Hindu temples. Sanskrit books and schools were burnt. Hindus were given only 2 options: either accept Islam or die. Villages were converted to Islam, by force. Kashmiri women were sold as slaves in Arabia. Thousands committed sucide. Hundreds of thousands migrated.

1819 - 1947 AD:

Pt. Birbal joined Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh defeated Ajim Khan, then the ruler of Kashmir. Ranjit singh appointed Gulab singh as the head of Kashmir. Gulab Singh united the state of Kashmir. After him his son Ranbir Singh became the king of Kashmir. He opened many centres for the teaching and study of Sanskrit, built libraries and made efforts for re-establishing the values of Hindu life. The next king Pratap singh was succeded by Maharaja Hari Singh. When India gained freedom, Hari Singh opted to remain independant.

3 Mistakes commited by Kashmiri Pandits:

1. Kashmiri Pandits declined to convert Buddhist Rinchan to Hinduism. Enraged he converted to Islam. And a seed of 500 year tryannical Islamic rule was sown.

2. When Hindus assumed the power in Kashmir, the king Ranbir Singh, asked Kashmiri Pandits to allow those (who were earlier converted to Islam by force) to join Hinduism. Narrow minded, short sighted, and not having learnt anything from the 500 years expirience, Kashmiri Pandits declined to do so.

3. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Reproduced from: 

Converted Kashmir - Memorial of Mistakes 

A Bitter Saga of Religious Conversion 

Author: Narender Sehgal 

Kashmir: The origins of the dispute

By Victoria Schofield, author of Kashmir in Conflict

In August 1947 when the Indian subcontinent became independent from Britain, all the rulers of the 565 princely states, whose lands comprised two-fifths of India and a population 99 million, had to decide which of the two new dominions to join, India or Pakistan.

The ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, whose state was situated between the two new countries, could not decide which country to join.

He was Hindu, his population was predominantly Muslim. He therefore did nothing.

Instead he signed a "standstill" agreement with Pakistan in order that services such as trade, travel and communication would be uninterrupted.

India did not sign a similar agreement.

Law and order

In October 1947, Pashtun tribesmen from Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province invaded Kashmir.

There had been persistent reports of communal violence against Muslims in the state and, supported by the Pakistani Government, they were eager to precipitate its accession to Pakistan.

Troubled by the increasing deterioration in law and order and by earlier raids, culminating in the invasion of the tribesmen, the ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, requested armed assistance from India.

The then Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten, believed the developing situation would be less explosive if the state were to accede to India, on the understanding that this would only be temporary prior to "a referendum, plebiscite, election".

According to the terms of the Instrument of Accession, India's jurisdiction was to extend to external affairs, defence and communications.

Troops airlifted

Exactly when Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession has been hotly debated for over 50 years.

Official Indian accounts state that in the early hours of the morning of 26 October, Hari Singh fled from Srinagar, arriving in Jammu later in the day, where he was met by V P Menon, representative of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and signed the Instrument of Accession.

On the morning of 27 October, Indian troops were airlifted into Srinagar.

Recent research, from British sources, has indicated that Hari Singh did not reach Jammu until the evening of 26 October and that, due to poor flying conditions, V P Menon was unable to get to Jammu until the morning of 27 October , by which time Indian troops were already arriving in Srinagar.

In order to support the thesis that the Maharaja acceded before Indian troops landed, Indian sources have now suggested that Hari Singh signed an Instrument of Accession before he left Srinagar but that it was not made public until later.

This was because Hari Singh had not yet agreed to include the Kashmiri leader, Sheikh Abdullah, in his future government. To date no authentic original document has been made available.

Pakistan immediately contested the accession, suggesting that it was fraudulent, that the Maharaja acted under duress and that he had no right to sign an agreement with India when the standstill agreement with Pakistan was still in force.

Pakistanis also argued that because Hari Singh fled from the valley of Kashmir , he was not in control of his state and therefore not in a position to take a decision on behalf of his people.

'Bad faith'

In the context of Pakistan's claim that there is a dispute over the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the accession issue forms a significant aspect of their argument.

By stating that the Instrument of Accession was signed on 26 October, when it clearly was not, Pakistan believes that India has not shown good faith and consequently that this invalidates the Instrument of Accession.

Indians argue, however, that regardless of the discrepancies over timing, the Maharaja did choose to accede to India and he was not under duress.

On the basis of his accession, India claims ownership of the entire state which includes the approximately one-third of the territory currently administered by Pakistan.

In 1949 Maharaja Hari Singh was obliged by the Government of India to leave the state and hand over the government to Sheikh Abdullah.

He died in Bombay in 1962.