Shāradā Lipi - The Indigenous Script of Kashmir

 Kashmir used to be a historical epitome where scholars used to visit, study, and gain knowledge in different subjects. It was called Sarvajna Peetha (the seat or land of learning). The sages or rishis resided there. They were the masters of other topics and offered knowledge to aspiring scholars.

Hieun Tsang, the famous globetrotter, and Chinese scholar visited Kashmir in the 7th Century AD and described in his notes how Sanskrit has been used to deliver knowledge. People of all ages used the Shāradā script to write Sanskrit.

 

This Lipi or script was a unique writing system defined and extracted from the Brahmic family of Lipis that flourished in the northern states of India (Punjab and Himachal Pradesh). The use of Shāradā texts has been widely found in Afghanistan. You will be surprised to know that the older version of this Lipi dates back to the 3rd Century AD.

More about Shāradā Lipi

As time passed, Shāradā script spread across the northern and northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent between the 8^th and 12^th Centuries AD. This script is one of the mother languages that gave birth to the native language of Kashmir and its surrounding areas—practiced by the Kashmiri Pandits, a religious community of the descendants of sages living in the Sarvajna Peetha.

This script or lipi stemmed from the Sanskrit name of Goddess Saraswati. The sages and scholars worshiped her as the Goddess of Knowledge in this land. As time passed, this script took a route to the other parts of Asia. We can find its presence in temples, sculptures, and other historical figurines.

Students from different origins are fascinated by the use of this script. Today, there are excellent ways to learn this old script online. The modern practitioners have studied and rejuvenated the Shāradā script for the admirers and did not let it drown in the abyss of time.

Benefits of studying Shāradā Lipi

As mentioned earlier, this is a mother language from where the local languages are born and used. It was used by the Brahmins or sages 1300 years ago to deliver knowledge and teach scholars. The historical value of this language in developing India is immeasurable.

An online course on this script will also let you study the manuscripts written by the sages of that time. The knowledge of different subjects and the way of life are defined using this language. Learning this language mastering basic alphabets, conjuncts, rules, and other elements will let you read and understand the value of the lost Indian culture. Master this historical language and participate in reviving it. 

Enroll now in the Shāradā Lipi course to learn this ancient script and explore the knowledge hidden in manuscripts written in this lipi.