विजीयते पुण्यबलैबर्लैय्रतु न शस्त्रिणाम ।
परलोकात् ततो भीतिर्यस्मिन् निवसंता परम्।।
(Kashmir can not be defeated using arms and weapons, but it can be won only through the potent power of virtue.
The Kashmiris feel affrighted only by the vibrations from paradise but never by the armed forces.)
 Rajtarangini by Kalhan, Pratham tarang, shlok 39.

Kashmir, from time eternal, has beamed as Crown on forehead of Bharatmata and has been the glory of Bharat, with its unparalleled brawn and courage, for over four thousand years.
Kashmiri historian Kalhan has revered approbation in his account portraying Kashmir’s history that expresses saga of unmatched strength and devotion towards their Motherland.

For centuries, the Kashmiri brave hearts halted the impregnable bellicose, with the tip of their swords from stepping their foot on the soil of Kashmir.
The same holy land of Kashmir, nurtured the Spirituality along with sons of soil, fostered valour.
In innumerable ancient scriptures of Sanskrit, the majestic regalia of Kashmir, is witnessed.
History is witness to the fact that Strike of Kashmiri sword had struck as far as Central Asia.

It is undeniable truth that Kashmir has presented the world, with the doctrine of peaceful co-existence, depicting the various religious Darshan.
The history can not turn its back to the unrivalled gospel of Victorious legacy of Kashmir.

The history of Kashmir travels alongside the Mahabharata. Historian Kalhan, in his book Rajtarangini, has mentioned Emperor Gonand (First), who ruled Kashmir few years before the period of Yudhishthira ‘s enthronement, post battle of Kurukshetra.

Emperor Gonand was a close relative of Emperor Jarasangh of Magadh, who was known for his oppressive and tyrant rule.
Shri Krishna advanced a mission of eliminating such tormentor rulers and hence, a combat between the two, along with two of the Pandavas, Bhim and Arjun took place on the banks of Yamuna, near Mathura.
Gonand, along with his trustworthy group of warriors reached the spot in support of Jarasangh, while the skirmish between the two happened.

Gonand and his warriors beleaguered ShriKrishna and it animated Jarasangh.
After a fierce fight, Jarasangh was extinguished by ShriKrishna and ShriKrishna’s brother Balabhadra ended Gonand’s life journey.

After Emperor Gonand’s Demise, his son Damodar was crowned as ruler of Kashmir.
Damodar was shocked and pained with the sudden death of his father, at the hands of Balabhadra and decided to take revenge on ShriKrishna.
When ShriKrishna was busy attending Swayamwar in Gandhar, Damodar strategized to attack, but ShriKrishna’s proficiency in political manoeuvre was supreme and ShriKrishna gave befitting reply to Emperor Damodar’s ambush and Damodar met with his end.

Queen Yashovati
We worship ShriKrishna as God but he lived a life, while on earth, of a devoted mass leader.
He was distressed and anxious for any trouble to people concerning any issues of Bharatvarsh.
Post Emperor Damodar’s death, ShriKrishna instituted his wife Queen Yashovati’s coronation on Kashmir’s throne as they did not have a heir, then.
Rani Yashovati was pregnant at the time of enthronement and later delivered a son, who is known in history as Gonand-2.
Rani Yashovati took charge of Kashmir and ruled the state as per guidance by ShriKrishna.
In her coronation, almost all kings and Emperors of Bharatvarsh participated wholeheartedly, indicates that Kashmir had astounding relations with almost all kingdoms.

Around the same time, the bitter Family embroilment between Pandava and Kaurava had turned into warfare and resulted in the battle of Mahabharata.

Most of the kingdoms of Aryavrat (Bharatvarsh) had participated in this Mahayuddh but kingdom of Kashmir was kept away as Gonand-2 was minor.
Kashmir had been the place of origin for espial of Bharatiyata and probably ShriKrishna found it to be essential to keep it away from flames of conflict and safeguarding it.

Historical facts regarding Kashmir being ruled by the Pandava dynasty are found in Rajtarangini.

Shri. Gopinath Shrivastav narrates in his treatise, ‘Kashmir : Samasya aur Prishthabhoomi’, that “As per Kalhan, there were 35 kings, post Gonand-2. The archives regarding their journey had been destroyed, thus not much of memoir can be located. There is a strong belief among Kashmiris that out of 35 kings, 23 obsolete kings, belonged to Pandava lineage. The wreckage of Martand and other temples of the era were called Pandav Bhavan or Pandavlari.
One of those extinct king was Hirandev, son of Parikshit and great grandson of Arjun (Abhimanyu’s grandson) who had fought against his own brother Janamejaya.
He was unable to face the impedance and hence fled to Chamb mountain range and took shelter in a hut where a sage was performing tenacity.
The sage blessed him that one day, he would become the king of Kashmir.

It is believed that Harandev from there went to Kashmir and joined the army of Gonand-2. Using his proffered worthiness, he became the Prime Minister of Gonand-2 and post his death, ruled over Kashmir for three decades.

The detritus of Shankaracharya temple in Kashmir Valley, speak volumes of the era gone by. It was built under the regime of Pandava king Sandipan.

During his rule, the borders of Kashmir were extended from Gandhar to Kannauj. In the same lineage, King Bhimsen captured many affluent venues in Central Asia.

The Sanskrit volumes of the era depict exactly the similar kind of governance in the entire Bharatvarsh.
Kalhan’s Rajtarangini is a perfect portrayal of Political and Social speech of the period.

As per historian Kalhan, Emperor Ashok spread his wings over Kashmir, in 250 BC.

The boundaries of Ashok’s reins were extended from Bengal till Hindukush mountain range in Afghanistan. Ashok built the city of Srinagar, which is situated about Five kms away from current city of Srinagar, hence it is evident that current Srinagar, is the newer version f old city. Earlier, the capital city was situated near ‘Puranadhishthan’ (current Pandrethan). The temple built at the place is a silent witness of the Golden era.
Hu-en-Sang, the famous Chinese traveller who had resided in Kashmir for Five years, has mentioned in his account, that Emperor Ashok, during his rule, made about Five Thousand Buddhist monks settled in Kashmir but this settlement did not arouse any conflict with the local inhabitants of Kashmir.

Emperor Ashok himself, worshipped Bhutesh Shiva and the temple built by Ashok is also known as Ashokeshwar temple. The biggest barometer of affection and bonding with the people of Kashmir is illustrated in the 16,000 residential centres. During Ashok’s epoch, Kashmir became the largest centre as well as inspiration of Buddhism and it lasted for Forty years of Ashok’s rule.
Emperor Ashok, though practised Buddhism, but he was a devotee of Lord Shiva and Shaivism.

He desired to bear a son, to give Kashmir, a courageous and prosperous rein, post Ashok’s death and he performed devoted penance, with the intention of bearing a courageous and mighty son.

म्लेच्छै: संच्छादिते देशे स तदुच्छित्तिये नृप: ।
तपस्संतोषिताल्लभे भूतेशात्सुकृति सुतम्। ।।
(मलेच्छो से (कश्मीर) देश संछादित हो गया था। अतएवं राजा ने कठोर तपस्या कर भूतेश से वर स्वरूप जलौक नामक पुत्र, उनके संहार निमित्त प्राप्त किया।)
By the end of Emperor Ashok’s rule in Kashmir, the foreign invaders pillory over Kashmir, had increased manifolds. Ashok’s son Jalauk was devoted Shiv-Bhakt yet valorous king. His unparalleled efficiency in King craft of armed forces, enforced the invaders to bow down and the borders of Kashmir extended till Kanauj and Gandhar.

Jalauk being staunch Shiv Bhakt, was considered as the incarnation of Nandishwar in Kashmir. Under the guidance of his Guru Avdhoot, Jalauk did not just excelled in religious discourse but inspired Buddhist intellects to adopt Shaivism.
Emperor Jalauk, re-instated Sanatan Dharma in Kashmir but remained non-violent. Though he was a Shaiv stalwart, he did not leave any stone unturned in acquiring thorough knowledge of Buddhist school of thought and implying it in governance.
Jalauk’s pursuance of Tolarance, was recognised by epithet of ““Bodhisatva Swaroop”.
Emperor Jalauk inspired innumerable scholars from around the world, in Kashmir.
During the period of Jalauk’s rule, Kashmir had developed and strengthened warm and affable relations with Greece.
Kashmir, in present scenario, is marked as destination with picturesque beauty and the religious conflict between Hindu and Muslim…
But, can any one deny the lavish legacy of copious culture and profuse bravery, which is the true identity of Kashmiri region.
It is the essence of Bharatiya roots imbibed in Kashmiri soil that ensures integrity with Bharat.