HERATH POSHTE’—A tribute to collective Kashmiri Heritage

 

Image courtesy, India Today

The dichotomy of Shivratri and Herath can simply be explained by the marked differentiation between mainstream Indian Hindus and Kashmiri Pandits. The former Vaishnavs, and latter being the Shaivites, celebrate “Shiv-Parvatis” marriage in very different manner.

Now what prompted me to write this blogpost is the discussion that ensued with a Kashmiri Pandit friend over the etymology of the word “Poshte” when I wished her “Herath Poshte”. She doubted its usage and the friendly banter led towards more revelations for her and for me. Poshte’ means foreboding/wishing abundance on the occasion, when winter is on its last leg in Kashmir and daffodil blooms usher in Spring. Pardon my ignorance if I come across as a “Half baked vattuk aka pot” as I try to pour down some original & some assimilated hand me down, copy-pasted thoughts I came across on social media.

Don’t read this piece with intellectual blinkers or nuanced jargons. This is just a string of thoughts to signify something which all Kashmiris should acknowledge and own. Just be kind as i remember & recollect a segment of “Kashmir of Yore”; a pluralistic melting pot of religions with a diverse yet unified ethos. Mohd Abdullah Tibet Baqal, the renowned Muslim sufi singer used to sing Bhajans of Shiv. The famously used Lal Ded Vaakh/ quote even now is:

Shiv chuy thale thale rozaan,

Mo zaan hyund ti Musslman;

Truk ay chukh ti panun paan parzaan,

Soy chaey sahibus zaenie zaan.

(The presence of Shiva can be felt everywhere, in every object and creature. How stupid — to discriminate between individuals—Hindus and Muslims! If you are truly sensible recognize your own self. It will help you achieve the eternal truth- the Supreme Lord)

The common thread ran so strongly that “Herath” meant “Gadde bataa” OR “Naate Bataa” aka Fish Rice & Mutton Rice for all of us, irrespective of religious affiliation. My Dad used to get invites from his KP friends to come over & savor the feast. Mind you, Kashmiris being big foodies, just about look forward to such occasions, more than India looks forward to the budget. Shiv-Parvati being the cosmic embodiment of Shakti; they leave no stone unturned in exhibiting their “gorging prowess or Shakti”. Lame corollaries aside, a Kashmiri Hindu celebrates the occasion like no other Hindu, by fasting, feasting and making merry. After all cosmic marriages don’t happen for nothing. They played with Haaris or shells, ate soaked walnuts, expended gifts and money to younger ones, called “Herat Kharach” or “Salaam”; and just about were happy & content in their Phirans back in time.

Non-Vegetarian fare & soaking walnuts in earthern pots was & is a must, and so is snow. It’s supposed to be a litmus test to validate the association of Shiv & snow on Kailash mountain range. Snow it would & it does mostly.  There’s a real story which goes with it, and was shared by a friend. Jabbar Khan, the Afghan governor in eighteenth century Kashmir, once ordered the festival to be postponed to June. He wanted to see whether it would snow in summer. Lo & behold it did and the common saying goes as “Wontow Jabbaar Jandoh; Haaras ti korthow Wandow”. It means “Hey Jabbar the ragged wretched devil, you have turned a summer into deep dark winters”. Needless to say, that it destroyed crops that year.

Here’s a poem in Persian by Ali Mardan Khan, a Kurdish military general, who served the Safavid dynasty, and Shah Jahan too (courtesy Triloke Kaul)

Huma Aslay Maheshwar Bood
Shabshahay Ki Man Didam
Gazanfar Charam Dar Barbood
Shab Shahay

I saw him at night, I am sure it was Maheshwar
wearing a Lion skin on him, that night

Zee Bhasamsh Jam-e-Bar Tan
Zonarsh maar bar gardan
Ravansh gang bar sar bood
Shab Shahay

His body covered in ash, a snake around the neck
Ganga was flowing down from his hair, that night

Say Chashmash bar jabeen Darad
Zee mehroy roshan tar
Say Karan Dast Bastah bood
Shab Shahay

Three eyes on his face, his face all illuminating
for that reason, my hands paid him respect, that night

B-dastash Aab-e-Kosar
V-bekh Nakusee Nilofar
Hilalash Taaj bar sar bood
Shab Shahay

Water of bounty, a lotus conch in hand
his head was lit by moon, that night

Uma Az Soi-la-Bingar
Zi Sad Khursheed Taban tar
Svarash Kulib-e-nar bood
Shab Shahay

Uma to his left, bright like a thousand suns
their ride was a Bull, that night

Ajab Sanyaas-e-didam
Namo Narayan Guftam
E-Khakay paye bosidham
Shab Shahay

I saw a strange renouncer, my lips uttered – Namoh Narayan
I kissed the dust flying off his feet, that night

Nigahay bar manay Miskeen
Namood Az Chashim Tabaan Tar
Makanash Laamkan tar bood
Shab Shahay

He looked deep into me with his shining eyes
I saw his house in the uninhabitable infinite, that night

Manam Mardaan Ali Khanam
Gulam Shah-e-Shaham
Ajab Israar may Beenam
Shab Shahay

I, Ali Mardan Khan, server of King of Kings
I witnessed something very strange, that night”

RELEVANCE OF WALNUTS SOAKED IN VATTUK AKA EARTHERN POTS

Shivratri literally means the great “night of Shiva”, also the day when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati.  Its called ‘Herath’ in Kashmiri, a word derived from the Sanskrit ‘Hararatri’ the ‘Night of Hara’ (another name of Shiva).

Now any Puja typically has three forms: Yogic, spiritual and ceremonial.
The Anushthan (beginning of the specific holy ceremony) during the Shivaratri Puja involves using brass or earthen pots, representing Shiva and Parvati which are invoked by the recitation of mantras and beejakshars.

The smaller vessels, representing other deities including Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganesha are similarly readied for formal worship. A couple of more vessels are also kept ready for the Bhairavas.

The Kalash symbolically represents creation. Walnuts are placed in these KALASH since it’s the fruit of the season and the fruit of the land, loved by Shiva.

The Kalash is filled with water to soak the walnuts completely in it. This ceremony is called Vatuk Barun in Kashmiri. It is believed that the water source in the Kalash is from the Ganga/Prayag and other holy rivers, virtually taking the devotees towards Shiva.
In the olden times these soaked walnuts were given to the peasants, who would cultivate it on the banks of rivers, usually around the holy teerath at TullaMulla.

The use of Walnuts is significant here because of the following reasons:
A walnut has four quadrants. The first quadrant represents the Rigveda.
The second quadrant is Yajurveda. The third quadrant is Samaveda
and the fourth quadrant is the Atharvaveda.  All the four Vedas are equally important within the spirit and meaning of the Sat -Chit- Ananda (Upanishadic concept) and Svaroopa (Shaivistic concept). The walnut is, therefore, a manifestation of the SEED of Absolute Shiva. These walnuts, once taken out are distributed amongst family and friends.

WHAT IS HERATH (SOME ASTROLOGICAL INTERPRETATIONS & DIFFERENCE FROM SHIVRATRI)

Herth is performed one day before Mahashivratri.

• Why Tithi triyodashi is important to celebrate Hyerath?

According to Bharav Yaag Granth Triyodashi is the deciding factor to solemnize the day of Hyreath. Triyodashi should be present at midnight. That is the reason Herath festival is sometimes celebrated on Dwadashi and sometimes at Triyodashi.

2) Are Herath and Maha Shiv Ratri same festivals?

Herath is Har-Ratri (Hura Ratri) celebrated on Triyodashi & MahaShivratri deciding factor is Chaturdashi that is the reason Maha shivratri is also called Shiv-Chaturdashi. Hyreath and Maha-Shivratri cannot be solemnized on the same day.

To worship Vatak Nath it’s important to solominise Herath a day earlier
Deciding factor is Triyodashi and Mahashivratri is based on Chatrudashi as per Dharam Sindu. This is the reason Herath Festival cannot be celebrated on chaturdashi.
In Kashmiri, the wishes on Herat go like this:

बडि दोहुक छुव हथ हथ पोष्त: ! भगवान दीनव ओरज़व तः दोरः कौठ आय तः बतः लोकःटयन माय बडियन यज़त , दय सँज़ नज़र रूज़िनव हमेशः दय थवि नव रुमु ऋशयुन आय ” तोहय सारनिय छु शिवरात्री पोष्त: भगवान दीनव अॅज़्यकि द्वोह स्यॆदि-बुथि तार नमस्कार ह्येरॅच़ हुन्द छुवॅ हथ हथ पोषतॅ

It means “Many congratulations on the big day. May Bhagwan give you strength of knee (literally) and keep you in the pink of health. Love to younger ones and respect to elders, may the Goddess keep a watch over you, may she bestow you with all things bountiful”

“Wish you abundance of Shivratri. May Bhagwan bless you with right thinking and wisdom”

 As winter wanes in Kashmir, this season marked the sprouting of edible greens, daffodils aka Yemberzal and some patches of green. My grandmother used to keep a fast and soak walnuts, many days prior to Herath. The common thread of plurality ran across the fabric of Kashmir, and it wasn’t out of place for a Kashmiri Sikh to tie a thread in an “Astaana” or Mausoleum, or celebrate Shivratri at par with a Kashmiri Pandit. Ironically Haerath also means a deep yearning, of a place called Home.

Hope springs eternal for mankind and for all Kashmiris, whose memories are marked by all this, and so much more!

May some Phagun (the season of colours) bring back the multihued canvas of colours, back to Kashmir. Btw, it snowed on Herath—should be a good omen for the vale and it’s dwellers inside and outside.