the origins and history of Kashmir's Sharada Devi Temple. Some historians say the temple began as a Buddhist shrine

 

• There are many perspectives on the origins and history of Kashmir's Sharada Devi Temple. Some historians say the temple began as a Buddhist shrine and was subsequently converted into a Hindu temple by King Jayasimha in the 12th century, while others claim it was always a Hindu temple devoted to the goddess Sharada.
• Some academics and historians widely believe that the word "Sharada" has Buddhist roots and that the temple was formerly a Buddhist study institution. There are some of the reasons:

• picture : A comparison with archaeological evidence suggests that the architecture of Buddhist sites in the region was a Buddhist center in ancient times.

1. Historical records:
   a. The temple was once a Buddhist temple, according to Dr. H.C. Sethi's book "History of Medieval Kashmir." He references the writings of Xuanzang, a Chinese explorer and monk who visited Kashmir in the 7th century CE and identified a Buddhist monastery near the temple. Dr. H.C. Sethi's work adds to the evidence that Kashmir's Sharada Devi temple may have been Buddhist. The book states that the Sharada Devi temple was a historic centre of study and knowledge, like many Buddhist monasteries. The library had thousands of documents on philosophy, literature, and science. Before becoming a Hindu temple, the site may have been engaged for Buddhist studies.
   
   "Sarvajna Peetha"—"seat of all knowledge" in Sanskrit—was the temple's original name, according to the book. Saraswati, the Buddhist goddess of learning, was known as "Sarvajna." The temple's main deity, Sharada Devi, was originally a Buddhist version of Saraswati, the book says.
   
   b. In his poem "Vikramankadevacharita,
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   " the Kashmiri poet Bilhana said that the temple was initially a Buddhist monastery that was subsequently turned into a Hindu temple.
2. Architecture: The temple's architecture is similar to those of Buddhist temples seen across India. The wooden pillars inside the temple, for example, are comparable to those seen in ancient Buddhist monasteries.
   The Sharada Devi temple has many architectural characteristics with other Buddhist structures in the area, including the neighbouring Buddhist ruins of Parihaspora. These parallels show that Buddhist architects may have designed or influenced the construction of the temple.
3. Geographic name: Sharada is said to be derived from the ancient Buddhist center of study, Sharada Peeth, in modern-day Pakistan.
4. Goddess Sharada: The temple's goddess Sharada is seen as a reincarnation of the Buddhist goddess Saraswati. The name "Sharada" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Saraswati," which is the Hindu goddess of study and knowledge. Yet, the name "Sharada" is also linked with Saraswati, the Buddhist goddess of wisdom.
5. Area: The Sharada Devi temple is located in the hamlet of Sharda, which is in Azad Kashmir's Neelum Valley. This area was traditionally a hub of Buddhist scholarship and culture, and also has a number of other Buddhist landmarks. situated in an area that has traditionally been a hub of Buddhist study and culture. For example, the adjacent town of Baramulla was a major centre of Buddhist knowledge in antiquity.
6. Archaeological investigations at the site have discovered various Buddhist artefacts, including a stone slab with inscriptions in the Sharada script, which was employed in ancient India for writing in Sanskrit and other languages. This shows that at some time in the past, the place was utilised for Buddhist study and research.
   Other Buddhist items discovered at the site include a statue of Buddha and a Buddhist prayer wheel, in addition to the stone slab with Sharada writing . These relics indicate that the location was maybe utilized for Buddhist prayer and meditation.

Buddhism and Hinduism engaged in a substantial amount of cultural interchange in ancient India, as is common knowledge. It is likely that the Sharada Devi temple was initially a Buddhist site that was subsequently adopted by Hindus, or that it was a location that both Buddhists and Hindus used at various periods.