Like all ancient cultures, Kashmiri Pandits have, over the past 5000 odd years, evolved unique methods of celebrating their socio-religious festivals. It is a beautiful integration of religious practices including Tantra and philosophy with ever evolving social norms and folklore, mostly based on a hoary past. Local climatic conditions, geographical realities and material availability for conducting socio-religious events, obviously impacted the manner of celebrations. Festivals like Kaav Panim, Gadabatta, Sonth, Nov Sheen, Khetcheri Mavas, Kreel Pachh, Thal Barun are based on our religious beliefs and various socio-religious customs. Of all our socio religious festivals, Shivratri( Herath) is on top of the pyramid. To many people in our community, Herath means many different things. At a very mundane level, it symbolizes the marriage of Shiva and Shakti. The Cult of Shiva worship has very deep roots in Kashmir. It was in Kashmir that Lord Shiva Himself is said to have revealed the Shiv Sutras to Acharya Vasugupta. Kashmir has its own School of Shiva Philosophy, known as Trik Darshan and for the last almost 12 centuries, there has been a dazzling array of Acharyas and savants who have expounded and explained the intricacies of this unique branch of philosophy.

To the knowledgeable, Shivratri involves worship of the Vatuk Bhairav, having its roots deep in Tantra. Prominent Kashmiri scholar, Dr. Chaman Lal Raina expounds:” Vatuka is the important concept of the Kashmiri Pandit psyche, read with Herath tradition and Shaivistic spirituality. Every Sanskrit word draws its meaning from its root, which is known as धातु --verbal root .Vata /वट is the verbal root of the word वटुकः। Literally, Vatuk  means a school going child, but the grammarians have analysed it as:

वेष्टनार्थकधातुना कटि वटि भ्याञ्च कन --हलन्त्  इति वटुकः। वट्यते  वेष्ट्यते  सर्वं जगत्प्रलये अनेनेति वटुकः।

He who winds up, twists around causes to shrink up, and encloses or encircles, is revered as Vatuka.

Vatuk is Brahmachari Bhairava-----वटु ब्रह्मचारी भैरवः इति। वटुक in the modern pedagogical system can be said to be the monitor of the class. The scriptures say:----वटून ब्रह्मचारिणः कायति उपदिशति  इति वटुको गुरु रूपः

 भैरव   is the celestial personification of qualities of bharati/भरति विश्वम् भैरवः। The Tantra explains as under: --

विश्वस्य भरणात् रवणात् वमनात् --सृष्टि स्थिति संहारकारी परशिवो भैरवः।

Because of the Divine will--Svantatra Bhaava/स्वतन्त्र भाव, the भैरव creates, sustains, dissolves through Bharan--बरुन--रवुन/रुवुन, वमुन in Kashmiri language. That being the nature of Parama Shiva--the Self revelation of Shiva through the appearance of Vatuka.

------Dr. Pt. Chaman Lal Raina

In Kashmir, the festival is called Har-ratri or phonetically simpler Haerath or Herath. It is celebrated on the night of Phalgun Krishna Paksh Dwadashi-Trayodashi. The puja is very elaborate and full of tantrik symbolisms.

Kalash symbolizing Vatuk Nath is placed on the extreme left from North East corner followed by other smaller vessels like Dulij, Sanivaari etc. towards its right in a line on the specially made Asans called Tchengijs decorated with rice flour Yantras and flowers. The whole process is known as Vatuka Barun. So Vatuk, in the form of Kalash, is the central point of attraction. 

This painting is the visual representation of the Vatuk Nath Bhairav, representing the Lord of the Lords 'Shiva'.

Ravi Dhar (#ravidhar)
Website: www.artistravidhar.in