Religious iconoclasm in Ancient Kashmir
The institute of “Religious Iconoclasm “ in Kashmir was started by Hindu king Harsa .
Iconoclasm is a social belief in the importance of the destruction of religious Idols or monuments .Although breaking Religious Sacred idols of Naga, Buddhist and Hindu deities happened before as well but Hindu king ” Harsa” who ruled Kashmir from 1089 -1111 AC , institutionalised this doctrine of Iconoclasm at official Level.
1) NARA -I ,THE WICKED ICONOCLAST : Nara-I ruled the Kashmir from 983- 1023 BC and Buddhism was introduced by King Surrendra ,the first Buddhist ruler around 1674-1596 BCE .
According to great leader of Kashmiri Pandits , Pandit Jailalkilam[1] .’During the reign of Nara-I ,’’Thousands of Buddhist monasteries were burnt ,a thousand of villages that supported these Buddhist monasteries were given to Brahmins. “Brahmans having succeeded in establishing their supremacy set themselves in strengthening themselves and their position.Thought and culture was denied to everybody except Brahmans and the modern Hinduism in Kashmir begin its growth.
According to Rajtarangini, ‘’ Nara burnt thousands of monasteries ,and gave to the Brahmanas ,who dwelt at Madhyamata,the villages that supported those monasteries[2]