ABSTRACT

Hinduism predominated in the very early ages of Kashmir. Buddhism began to prevail at the time of Asoka. A thousand years later, Shaivism became an important cult. The Valley came under the influence of Islam only in the 13th century. The Muslim ruler Zain-ul Abidin (1420-70) should be praised for his exceptional tolerance towards other religions. This early Islamic rule was followed by a rather long Moghul administration with short reigns of Afghanis and Sikhs. Raja Gulab Singh (1792-1857) purchased (1846) all the lands between the Indus and the Ravi from the East India Company. All of this territory remained under his successors until 1947 when Kashmir acceded to India.