Lalleshwari

Lalleshwari

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Category: Philosophy

Lalleshwari Profile

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Lalleshwari Biography

Lalleshwari was a mystic from Kashmir who lived in the 14th century. She is known for Vatsun poetry (speech poetry) and her compositions are the earliest of Kashmiri language. Though popularly known by the name Lalleshwari, she also had names Lal Ded, Lalla, Lal Diddi, Lalla Yogishwari and Lalishri. She belonged to Kashmiri Shaivite sect. The Hindus called her Lalleshwari and the Muslims Lalla Arifa. But both the sectors called her Lal Ded – meaning Lal grandmother. The word Lal means an unnatural growth internal or external, bodily projection. And this mystic poet’s belly had a hanging outgrowth. Many of her poems have been translated to English by Richard Temple, Jaylal Kaul, Jaishree Odin etc.

 

Till now there is no exact conclusion about her correct birth date. According to Noor Namas and Reshi Namas, her birth year is between 1300- 1320 A.D and she died around 1377. But some historians believe that he was born in the mid-1350. Lalleshwari was born in Pandrethan (ancient Puranadhisthana) in a Kashmiri Pandit family. She got married at the age of 12. But her marriage was sour and she had to face a lot of troubles from her mother-in-law though her father-in-law was good. She was even starved by her mother-in-law. She also poisoned the ears of her son with false news about Lal. She left home at the age of 22 and accepted sanyasa. She became a disciple of the Shaivite guru Siddha Srikantha and continued the mystic tradition of Shaivism in Kashmir, known by the name Trika till the beginning of 20th century.

 

She pursued Yoga under Sidh Srikanth and later guided her countrymen. She became a wandering preacher and led a severely ascetic life. She laid the foundations of the rich Kashmiri literature and folklore. Her works have a deep influence on the life of Kashmiri man till now.

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Updated: June 17, 2014

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