- Rupa Bhawani
Rupa Bhawani (Samvat 1681-1771) was a
Kashmiri mystic poet.Biography
Rupa Bhawani was the daughter of
Pandit Madho Joo Dhar ofKhanqahi Sokhta . Rupa Bhawani's descendants, from her paternal side are called Sahib Dhars.Pandit Madho Joo Dhar was a great devout of
Sharika . Sharika, pleased with his devotion, appeared to him one day asking him for a wish. Madho Joo asked mother goddess to be born as his daughter. The wish was granted, and Rupa Bhawani graced Madho Joo Dhar's home on Zaishta Pooranmashi in Samvat 1681.Rupa Bhawani was married to a learned young man, Pandit Hiranand Sapru, at an early age. Rupa Bhawani was, however forced to do to household chores as her in-laws, including Pandit Hiranand, could not reconcile themselves to her spiritual bent of mind and the meditative spells she had got used to at her father's abode.
Her mother-in-law provoked her son and made it impossible for Rupa Bhawani to live in her house. She returned to her father's place. Encouraged by her father, Rupa Bhawani started her meditation in earnest. However, finding regular meditation somewhat difficult in a family environment, she shifted to Wusan, Manigam, Waskura,
Chashme- i-Sahibi , etc. in that order, creating ashrams at every spot holding spiritual discourses, attracting devotees, Hindus and Muslims alike.Mata Rupa Bhawani attained mahanirvaan at her father's place, where she spent her last days. It was the seven day of the Magha Krishna Pakshya in Samvat 1777. The day is since known as Sahib Saptami (seventh day), observed by all the Hindus in Kashmir.
External links
* [http://www.koausa.org/Saints/RupaBhawani/index.html Saints and Sages: Rupa Bhawani]
*worldcat id|lccn-n93-22604
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