The origin of the Kashmiri Muslim Rishi Sufi order is lost in the mists of time. It was under Sheikh Nur-al Din or Nund Rishi that this order became popular during the early part of the 15th century. Nund Rishi is believed to have been mentored by the great Shaivite Yogini Lalleshwari or popularly known as Lal Ded (b. 1335 CE).
In her vakhs – the Kashmiri counter part of sakhis of Bhakti sants, Lal Ded expressed the need to break with the customs of orthodox religious traditions. She was an advocate of a syncretic ritual-free Shaivism called Trikamat Shaivism – Trika Shaivism incorporated Tantric and Buddhist influences and adopted a monistic metaphysical doctrine similar to Advaita Vedanta . Lal Ded’s mystic Shaivism was also influenced by the Sufi-Mystic tradition of Islam in its search for a universal supreme reality.
She would say:
“The idol is but stone
The Temple is but stone,
From top to bottom, all is but stone
Whom will you worship, O stubborn Pandit?”
She criticized outward rituals:
“O fool, right action does not lie
In fasting and other ceremonial rites
O fool right action does not lie
In providing for bodily comfort and ease
In contemplation of the self alone is right action and right council for you.”
“The pilgrim sanyasin goes from shrine to shrine,
Seeking to meet Him
Who abides within herself.
Knowing the truth, O soul, be not misled..”
Lal Ded preached a simple ethical monotheism, bitterly critiquing social inequalities, meaningless superstitions and rituals and challenging the oppression of the Brahmins. She stressed the oneness of all human beings, transcending caste and religious differences, thus:
Shiva is All-Pervading
Do not differentiate between a Hindu and a Muslim
If you have understanding, then realise your own self
In truth, this is the means to realise God.
Nund Rishi and his disciples were strict vegetarians, many of them were practiced celibacy. They preached in the local Kashmiri language and made major contribution to Kashmiri literature.
On the death of his spiritual mentor, Lal Ded, Nund Rishi wrote the following lines:
That Lalla of Padmanpore
Who had drunk to her full the nectar
She was an avatar of ours
Oh God , grant me the same spiritual power.
The syncretic nature of the Muslim Rishi order of Kashmir comes out in the following lines composed by Nund Rishi:
The universe is the objective manifestation of the essence of Shiva.
If you realise this by annihilating your self, you will be merged into Him.
In contrast to the non-local Sufi orders, the Rishis were representatives of an indigenous loosely grouped order of medicants representing a folk tradition of Islam in the region. This order was pantheistic in its beliefs and was influenced by Trika Shaivism of Kashmir as well as Buddhist influences in the Kashmiri society. Most of the sacred shrines of these Rishis are located in isolated and remote rural areas of Kashmir. Like Astan Sharif in Dregam Khasi Pora of Badgam district.
A cave known as Kanir cave is found under the shrine of Astan Sharif. It is believed that Nund Rishi used to meditate here. The Rishi order revived the concept of cave shrines prevalent among the Shaivite mystics.
Another cave shrine of the Rishi order is Aish Muqam Shrine of Zain Ud Din Rishi 22 kms from Pahalgam. Zain Ud Din Walli lived in the 15th century A.D. and was one of the principal disciples of Sheikh Nuruddin.
The Kashmiri Muslim Rishis followed a path of wandering among the local population and away from the court. The Rishi Sufi order promoted the local traditional architectural styles in the designing of their shrines such as the soaring bhrangs – wooden pyramidal spires with projecting gables at the base and octagonal pavilions.
The Rishis also nurtured the belief of the sacredness associated with forests, and planted tress of shade and fruit for wayfarers. They Rishis were wandering vegetarian ascetics, and many were celibates like the Buddhist bhikshus and Hindu Rishis.
The shrine of another Rishi lies near the Pir Panjal Pass, also called Peer Ki Gali which is a mountain pass. This is the shrine of Ahmed Karim Rishi who too was one of the prominent disciples of Nund Rishi. It is the highest point on the Mughal road at 3,490 m and lies to the south west of the Kashmir valley.
The Muslim Rishi order of Kashmir represented a spirit of pluralism and assimilation.
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Sources: 1.The Syncretic Traditions of Islamic Religious Architecture of Kashmir by Hakim Sameer Hamdani
2. Lal Ded by Jayalal Kaul, Sahitya Acacemy.
3. https://www.svabhinava.org/abhinava/YoginderSikand/RishisCrusaders-frame.php
Ashodara 