Shaktyullasah Sharika Devi: A Yogini of Kashmir

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Kashmir has a long tradition of yoginis (female saints) and poetesses from ancient times. The life of Yogini Sharika Devi is a witness to this unbroken tradition till the twentieth century. This book delves into the life of Yogini Sharika Devi, who was always absorbed in spiritual practice and in serving her guru, Swami Lakshman Joo of Ishwer Ashram of Ishber, Srinagar, Kashmir. Being the chief disciple of Swamiji, Deviji was well focused on her sadhana and was devoted to the mantra of silence for her spiritual prosperity.

Thus she is one of the women saints of Kashmir Saivism. An ideal disciple of her Gurudeva, Deviji was a many-splendoured personality, constantly absorbed in God-consciousness while performing her worldly duties. A jivanamukta, as enunciated by her Gurudeva, she wholeheartedly dedicated her entire life to the service of her Master with single-minded devotion. Though she led a simple life, many were witness to her spiritual powers while she was alive.

This volume, being brought out at the centenary celebrations of her birth, is a compilation of tributes from various people who knew Sharika Devi from close quarters, and who were a witness to her compassion and spiritual powers on numerous occasions. A valuable part of the book is Sharika Devi’s own contribution to it in the form of her mystic poems. An introduction by the internationally known scholar of Kashmir Saivim, Bettina Sharada Bäumer, makes the book invaluable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neerja Mattoo

Neerja Mattoo taught English language and literature in the Government College for Women, Maulana Azad Road, Srinagar and retired as Principal. She has written several books and papers on Kashmir and its literature and culture. She is well-known now as a translator from Kashmiri into English. apart from other publications, her book of translation of Kashmiri short stories," Contemporary Kashmiri Short Stories" was published by the Sahitya Akademi in 1998, and it has gone into two printings. She has participated in National and International Seminars, presenting papers on aspects of Kashmiri and English Literature. She was awarded a British Council Fellowship to the Unviersity of Oxford in 1984. She was also given a Senior Fellowship to the University of Oxford in 1984. She was also given a Senior Fellowships in Literature by the Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, in 1997, to work on four Kashmir women poets, Lalded, Habba Khotun, Roh Bhawani and Arnimal, the subject of her forthcoming book. Neerja Mattoo is based in Srinagar.