Lalit Gupta
lalitguptajammu@gmail.com
Perched on the banks of the River Tawi, Jammu-today the winter capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir-embodies a living mosaic of legend, archaeology, and royal legacy. Its story spans from mythic antiquity to modern statehood, reflecting the larger saga of northern India’s civilisation.
Legend and Early Beginnings
According to ancient lore, Jammu was once Jambu-Nagar, founded between the 25th and 14th centuries BCE by Raja Jambu Lochan, a descendant of Maharaja Sudarshan of Ayodhya. The king is said to have been inspired to establish his new capital when he witnessed a lion and a goat drinking peacefully from the same pond on the banks of the Tawi-an omen of justice and harmony. Over time, Jambu-Nagar evolved linguistically into Jammu, retaining the name of its legendary founder.
Archaeological Footprints of Antiquity
Archaeological discoveries affirm Jammu’s antiquity beyond legend. Stone Age tools found at Sutah, Palth, and Koota, and Neolithic artefacts from Malpur reveal early human presence. The Harappan site of Manda near Akhnoor connects Jammu directly to the great Sarasvati-Sindhu Valley Civilisation. Excavations show that the area functioned as a procurement centre for timber, lead, and steatite around the third millennium BCE-an indicator of its role in the Harappan trade network. The plains of Jammu, forming a natural link between the Himalayas and Punjab, thus served as a strategic and cultural corridor-a true gateway connecting the civilisations of the north with the Bharatiya heartland.
In the Vedic and Epic Traditions
The Rig Veda mentions the Chenab as Asikini, and Pauranic literature situates the Darva and Abhisara tribes between the Ravi and Jhelum rivers. Archaeological continuity from Harappan through Vedic and post-Vedic periods reflects Jammu’s role as a frontier of Bharatiya civilisation. The Mauryan expansion (321-185 BCE) and later Scythian and Kushan invasions made the region a melting pot of diverse influences. During the Kushan era, Jammu flourished as a transit route on the Uttarapatha-the northern highway linking Bengal to Gandhara.
Buddhist and Trans-Himalayan Links
Buddhist texts suggest the Jammu region’s significance during the Buddha’s lifetime. Figures like Bhiku Mahakappina and nuns Khema and Bhadda Kapilani-royals of Madradesa with Sagala (modern Sialkot) as their capital-were among his disciples. Under Indo-Greek ruler Menander (r. 165/155 BCE to 130 BCE), Buddhism received royal patronage in the northwest. The monastic complex at Ambaran (Akhnoor), with its stupas and sculptures, stands as Jammu’s most remarkable Buddhist site, revealing artistic excellence and connections to the Silk Road.
Rajput Polity and the Birth of the Duggar Identity
By the early medieval period, Jammu’s Rajput dynasties traced their lineage to Raja Jambu Lochan. The region came to be known as Duggar, a name found in 10th-11th century Chamba copper plate inscriptions. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, peace and trade flourished. Caravans travelled the Basohli-Kashmir route under the protection of local rulers, bringing prosperity reflected in the exquisite Nagara-style temples at Krimachi, Babbor, and Billawar.
Despite repeated invasions-Mahmud of Ghazni’s failed attempts in the 11th century to conquer Kashmir, Timur’s violent passage in 1399-the Jammu rulers maintained autonomy. Raja Maldev and his successors kept the local polity intact, balancing diplomacy and resistance.
By the 14th century, Jammu was mentioned in Timur’s Malfuzat-i-Timuri, while Tarikh-i-Kashmir-i-Azami (1417 CE) speaks of Jammu as a flourishing town, likely founded around 900 CE. After Raja Maldev, from 1400 to 1733, ten generations of his descendants ruled Jammu. Among them, Raja Biram Dev allied with Sultan Bahlol Lodi to curb the Khokhar menace, while under Mughal supremacy, Raja Ghoghar Dev earned Emperor Babur’s favour and was honoured as the “Raja of the Hills.” Jammu’s rulers of this era preserved their autonomy through a blend of diplomacy and occasional resistance. At Raja Ghoghar Dev’s invitation, Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited Jammu during his second Udasi in 1514 CE and delivered a discourse on Rajdharma in the precincts of the Panjbakhtar Temple, leaving a lasting spiritual legacy in the region.
Islamic Influence and Sufi Heritage
From the Ghaznavid period onward, Islam gradually spread through the region. Many Rajput clans embraced the new faith, while Jammu evolved into a seat of Sufi mysticism. Saints such as Pir Mitha, Pir Roshan Ali Shah, Pir Lakhdatta, Buddhan Shah, and Jeevan Shah became symbols of Jammu’s syncretic ethos, which endures in its living Sufi shrines.
The Founding of Modern Jammu
Frequent raids led to the relocation of the Duggar capital from Babbapur to Jammu around the 12th century. Raja Mal Dev (1361-1400 CE) established his court at Purani Mandi, making it the political nucleus of the region. His descendant Raja Dhruv Dev (1707-1733) unified the surrounding hill states and founded the Jamwal dynasty. He began construction of the Mubarak Mandi palace complex in 1710, overlooking the Tawi-a symbol of regal grandeur that still dominates Jammu’s skyline.
Ranjit Dev and the Rise of Dogra Power
Dhruv Dev’s son, Raja Ranjit Dev (1733-1781), ushered in a golden era of governance. He banned sati and female infanticide. When Ahmed Shah Durrani invaded Kashmir in 1752, Jammu escaped Afghan depredations due to the Raja Ranjit Dev’s astute diplomacy. Under his leadership, the state emerged as a dominant political power controlling 22 hill principlaities. By ensuring secure trade routes and stable government, Ranjit Dev earned Jammu the title of Dar-ul-Amn-the “Abode of Peace.” His court became a sanctuary for merchants, artists, and nobles fleeing the chaos of Punjab. However, after Ranjit Dev’s death, his weakened successors faced the rising power of the Sikh misls. By 1808, Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed Jammu.
The Dogra Dynasty and the Birth of a Princely State
During this period, a young Dogra soldier, Gulab Singh, distinguished himself in the Battle of Gummat and quickly rose through Ranjit Singh’s ranks and was made Raja of Jammu in 1822. His brothers, Dhian Singh and Suchet Singh, occupied important and high positions in the Lahore Darbar.
After the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1846, Gulab Singh negotiated peace between the British and the Sikhs. In return, the British ceded to him the Vale of Kashmir under the Treaty of Amritsar, thereby creating the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Having already conquered Ladakh, Baltistan, and Gilgit, Maharaja Gulab Singh created one of the largest princely domains in the subcontinent.
A statesman of vision, he founded the Dharmarth Trust to preserve and build temples, giving structure to the region’s cultural life. His successor, Maharaja Ranbir Singh, continued this legacy-introducing the Ranbir Penal Code, expanding Sanskrit learning and education, and merging Gilgit with Jammu and Kashmir.
Maharaja Pratap Singh (r. 1885-1925) faced growing British interference but managed to modernise administration and public works. His successor, Maharaja Hari Singh, emerged as a visionary statesman who represented India at the First Round Table Conference in London and championed the cause of India’s independence.
Partition and Aftermath
In 1947, facing tribal invasions backed by Pakistan, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, integrating Jammu and Kashmir with Bharata. The heroic defence of Brigadier Rajinder Singh and the swift response of the Indian Army saved Srinagar and repelled the invaders, though parts of Jammu and Kashmir remain under illegal occupation by Pakistan.
Dogra Architectural Heritage
Beyond their martial and administrative achievements, the Dogra rulers left a magnificent architectural legacy. The Mubarak Mandi palace complex-an elegant fusion of Rajasthani, Mughal, and European styles-remains the heart of Jammu’s built heritage. Numerous thakurdwaras and temples, adorned with murals dedicated to Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakti deities, stand as enduring symbols of faith and artistry. Their sheer number has earned Jammu its timeless epithet-the City of Temples.
A Living Legacy
From Stone Age tools and Harappan links to Vedic hymns, Buddhist stupas, Rajput forts, and Dogra palaces, Jammu’s landscape tells a saga of resilience and continuity. It is a city where myths meet monuments, where Sufi shrines stand beside temples, and where the legend of Raja Jambu Lochan still echoes by the tranquil waters of the Tawi. Even today, as pilgrims and travellers walk its temple-lined streets, Jammu remains what it has always been-a meeting ground of faiths and frontiers, and a living testament to harmony, heritage, and hope.
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