On the day of inauguration of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor in Pakistan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti called for a similar access to the Sharada Peeth for people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharada Peeth is an ancient Hindu temple located in Pak-occupied Kashmir across the Line-of-Control.
In a tweet underlining the significance of Kartarpur in bringing together people, Mehbooba Mufti pointed out that her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, advocated peace in Kashmir through a similar path.
“Kartarpur is a great example of how religion can bring people together instead of dividing them. It is a path envisioned by PDP founder Mufti Sb to end the turmoil in Kashmir. #SelfRule,” she tweeted on Wednesday, 28 November.
Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu-Kashmir, then demanded that both New Delhi and Islamabad should work together to allow pilgrims from Kashmir to visit Sharada Peeth.
“After Kartarpur, Delhi and Pakistan must facilitate Sharada Peeth pilgrimage for Kashmiris,” she wrote referring to the Hindu temple in Pak-occupied Kashmir.
Kartarpur is a great example of how religion can bring people together instead of dividing them. It is a path envisioned by PDP founder Mufti Sb to end the turmoil in Kashmir. #SelfRule
After Kartarpur, Delhi and Pakistan must facilitate Sharda Peeth pilgrimage for kashmiris .— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 28, 2018
India and Pakistan are constructing corridors on their respective sides of the border that will allow Sikh pilgrims to access Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib located in tehsil Shakargarh, Narowal District, Punjab, Pakistan.
The Gurdwara is a place of immense religious significance because Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, breathed his last in Kartarpur.
Read More: Kartarpur Sahib | A corridor for the faithful to the resting place of Guru Nanak
What is Sharada Peeth and where is it located?
Sharada Peeth was an ancient Hindu temple and centre of learning before it fell to ruins. Built much before 7th century AD, the Peeth is located in what is called ‘Azad Kashmir’ in Pak-occupied Kashmir.
The Peeth, which now lies in ruins, is 150 kilometres from Muzaffarabad in the valley of Mount Harmukh.
The Sharada Peeth was one of the most important centres of learning before the Islamic conquest of the region. It was visited by the most renowned scholars of the time between 6th and 12th centuries AD, including Kalhana (author of Rajatarangini), Kumarajiva (one of the most renowned Buddhist scholars), and Adi Shankara.
Kashmiri Hindus believe that Sharada Peeth is one of the three tirthas of Kashmir. According to Hindu mythology, Sharada Peeth is one of the Shakti Peethas of South Asia and is significant because of its connection to Sati – the first consort of Lord Shiva.