ABSTRACT
Lajjã Gauri Seals and Related Antiquities from Kashmir Smast - Gandhãra
M. Nasim Khan
We have always been given the impression that the region of Gandhara remained under the sole influence of the Buddhist faith from the time of Asoka to the arrival of the Hindu Shahis. Recent discoveries in the region however, demonstrate that although it remained largely Buddhist, the area also embraced and gave refuge to other contemporary religions of the time, in particular a form of Saivism that flourished in the region at least from the 2nd century AD. This is supported by new research being conducted in the area of Gandhara; in particular the identification of Kashmir Smast as the earliest Saivite monastic establishment and cave temple site.
The site Kashmir Smast, named after the Great Cave, lies about 50 kilometres North-East of Mardan, Northern Pakistan, and is situated in the mountain range of Sukra at an altitude of 1100 m from the sea level. Beside the Great Cave other important establishments, situated in the vicinity of the main Cave, include small rock cut shelters, water reservoirs and a monastic area comprising the Siva temple, Lingam shrines, Soak area, double story structures etc. For many years antique seekers have been conducting illegal diggings and destroying this important and unique Saivite site. Among the many and varied antiquities recovered from the site are the Lajja Gauri seals some of which bear the earliest epigraphic documents related to the cult of Lajja Gauri in Ancient Gandhara. Based on the antiquities recovered from the site, in particular the seals, the present paper demonstrates that the cult of the Hindu pantheon in Gandhara was in practice from as early as the 2nd century AD and that contrary to the idea that the cult of Lajja Gauri was only limited to the Southern India, the origin of the practice of the cult of this goddess can now be traced to the northern region of Pakistan thanks to these discoveries.
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| Impression and drawing of a bronze seal bears symbol and inscription | |