Zehanpora and the Rediscovery of Kashmir’s Buddhist Past

Context

1. Recent excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India at Zehanpora in central Kashmir have uncovered ancient Buddhist stupas, associated brick structures, and cultural deposits.
2. These findings, widely reported in national newspapers, provide material evidence of Buddhism’s deep roots in Kashmir, a region more commonly associated in popular narratives with Shaivism and later Islamic traditions.
3. The discovery compels historians and archaeologists to re-examine Kashmir’s place in the religious, intellectual, and cultural history of ancient India.

Q1. Why are the Zehanpora stupa discoveries considered archaeologically and historically significant?

1. The Zehanpora discoveries are significant because they provide physical, stratified archaeological evidence of Buddhist presence in Kashmir, rather than relying only on textual references.
2. Archaeological importance
   1. Discovery of planned stupa structures, not isolated artefacts
   2. Use of brick and stone indicating permanent religious establishments
   3. Cultural layers suggesting long-term occupation
3. Historical importance
   1. Confirms Kashmir as an active centre of Buddhism, not a marginal zone
   2. Helps date Buddhist activity to the early historic period
4. Thus, Zehanpora transforms Kashmir’s Buddhist past from an abstract idea into a verifiable historical reality.

Q2. How do stupas function as religious, social, and ideological symbols in Buddhism?

1. Stupas are not merely architectural structures; they are multi-layered symbols in Buddhism.
2. Religious role
   1. Enshrine relics of the Buddha or eminent monks
   2. Act as focal points for worship, meditation, and ritual
3. Social role
   1. Centres around which monastic and lay communities interacted
   2. Sites of pilgrimage and collective religious identity
4. Ideological role
   1. Represent the Buddha’s enlightenment and presence
   2. Visually communicate Buddhist cosmology and ethics
5. The presence of stupas at Zehanpora indicates organised Buddhist life, not just philosophical influence.

Q3. In what ways do the Zehanpora findings alter our understanding of Kashmir’s early religious landscape?

1. Earlier narratives often emphasised Shaivism as Kashmir’s earliest dominant tradition. Zehanpora complicates this view.
2. Key changes in understanding
   1. Buddhism was institutionally established, not secondary
   2. Multiple religious traditions coexisted over long periods
   3. Religious dominance shifted gradually, not abruptly
3. This shows Kashmir as a religiously layered space, where belief systems overlapped, interacted, and evolved over centuries.

Q4. How does the Zehanpora site help locate Kashmir within wider Buddhist intellectual and trade networks?

1. Zehanpora strengthens the argument that Kashmir was part of trans-regional Buddhist circuits.
2. Network connections
   1. Proximity to routes linking India with Central Asia
   2. Monasteries likely hosted scholars, translators, and monks
   3. Ideas travelled along with merchants and pilgrims
3. Historically, Kashmir contributed to Buddhist philosophy, Sanskrit scholarship, and textual transmission, especially toward Central and East Asia. Zehanpora provides material backing to this intellectual role.

Q5. To what extent do archaeological findings at Zehanpora corroborate literary and traveller accounts of Buddhism in Kashmir?

1. Textual sources long spoke of Kashmir’s Buddhist past, but lacked physical confirmation.
2. Supporting texts
   1. Kalhana’s Rajatarangini mentions Buddhist monks and sites
   2. Chinese pilgrims like Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) described monasteries in Kashmir
   3. Buddhist councils are traditionally associated with the region
3. Zehanpora’s stupas validate these textual narratives, strengthening confidence in combining archaeology with historical literature.

Q6. What do these discoveries reveal about patterns of religious coexistence and state patronage in ancient Kashmir?

1. The findings suggest that ancient Kashmir practised religious pluralism.
2. Patterns observed
   1. Buddhist institutions flourished alongside Shaiva traditions
   2. Rulers patronised multiple religious groups
   3. Religious change occurred through patronage shifts, not forced displacement
3. This indicates a syncretic political culture, where rulers prioritised stability and learning over exclusivity.

Q7. Why did Buddhism decline in Kashmir despite early royal and popular support?

1. The decline of Buddhism in Kashmir was gradual and structural, not violent.
2. Key reasons
   1. Decline in royal patronage over time
   2. Revival and dominance of Shaivism
   3. Absorption of Buddhist ideas into other traditions
3. Importantly, Buddhism’s decline did not erase its influence. Many ethical, philosophical, and artistic elements survived within Kashmiri culture.

Q8. How do the Zehanpora stupas contribute to broader debates in Indian historiography on cultural continuity and change?

1. Indian historiography often debates whether cultural change was marked by rupture or continuity.
2. Zehanpora’s contribution
   1. Shows continuity through layered religious practices
   2. Demonstrates cultural adaptation rather than replacement
   3. Challenges simplistic “rise and fall” narratives
3. Thus, Zehanpora supports a civilisational continuity model, where traditions evolve through interaction.

Q9. What is the contemporary relevance of the Zehanpora discovery for heritage conservation and identity politics?

1. Today, history often shapes identity and politics.
2. Contemporary relevance
   1. Highlights Kashmir’s plural historical identity
   2. Strengthens case for inclusive heritage conservation
   3. Encourages academic, not ideological, engagement with history
3. Protecting Zehanpora is essential not just for archaeology, but for promoting shared cultural ownership and dialogue in a sensitive region.

Conclusion

The Zehanpora stupas are not isolated ruins; they are keys to understanding Kashmir’s deep Buddhist past. They confirm that Kashmir was once a major centre of Buddhist worship, learning, and cultural exchange. By connecting archaeology with textual history, the discovery enriches Indian historiography and reinforces the idea of India, and Kashmir, as a civilisation shaped by pluralism, continuity, and intellectual exchange. Preserving such sites is vital for both scholarship and social harmony.