Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), popularly known as Nund Rishi, Sheikh-ul-Alam and Alamdar-e-Kashmir, enjoys a special place in the spiritual, literary and cultural history of Kashmir. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures associated with the indigenous Rishi tradition of Kashmiri Sufism. His short Kashmiri poems, known as shruks, have continued to live in the memory of Kashmiris for centuries.
What makes Nund Rishi’s teachings special is the simplicity of his language. He spoke about faith, human behaviour, humility, equality, nature and the temporary nature of worldly life in words that ordinary people could comprehend easily. His verses were simple to remember, yet carried deep meanings. Even today, many of his teachings remain relevant to everyday life.
Nund Rishi is generally believed to have lived from 1378 to 1440, although different historical and traditional sources give varying dates. He lived during an important period in Kashmir’s history, when different religious and intellectual traditions were developing alongside one another.
His spiritual teachings became closely associated with the Rishi tradition, which developed its own distinctive expression in Kashmir. His followers carried his message to different parts of the Valley, and the Rishi tradition gradually became an important part of Kashmir’s spiritual and cultural identity.
For generations, people have remembered Nund Rishi not simply as a saint, but as a teacher whose words addressed the moral and social concerns of his time.
Nund Rishi’s shruks are short mystical verses written in Kashmiri. Their strength comes from their simplicity. He did not depend on complicated words or lengthy explanations. Instead, he used familiar ideas and images to speak about life, death, faith, morality and human responsibility.
His use of Kashmiri was also significant. By expressing spiritual thoughts in the language spoken by ordinary people, he helped make such ideas accessible to a wider society. His verses became part of Kashmir’s oral tradition and were passed from one generation to another.
Even people who may not have read his complete body of work often recognise some of his famous shruks and sayings. One of the most widely remembered sayings attributed to Nund Rishi is “Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshi.”
The saying is commonly understood as meaning, “Food will remain as long as the forests remain.” The thought behind these few words is remarkably relevant today. Forests are closely connected with water, agriculture, biodiversity and human livelihoods. When forests are damaged, the effects are felt far beyond the trees themselves.
In the modern era, while people debate issues like deforestation, climate change, and environmental degradation, this century-old message brings forth a simple truth: man is intrinsically linked to nature.
This verse is also cited in the modern debate regarding environmental preservation and forest conservation in Jammu and Kashmir. The significance of this verse lies in its simplicity of understanding. It connects the well-being of people with the well-being of the environment in just a few lines.
Human equality and peaceful coexistence are other aspects that are emphasized in the preaching of Nund Rishi. The shruks of Nund Rishi have been analyzed with regard to equality, humanity, and relationships among various religious communities. These teachings help people move away from their social and religious identities and see their common duties towards mankind.
This message remains meaningful today. Kashmir, like every society, has people belonging to different communities, backgrounds and traditions. Differences can enrich society when they are accompanied by mutual respect and understanding. Nund Rishi’s spiritual thought reminds people that faith should also be reflected in how they treat others with dignity, compassion and humility.
Compassion, Self-Discipline and the Nafs (Human Self)
Nund Rishi’s spirituality was closely connected with personal character. He spoke about humility, self-control, compassion and the dangers of becoming overly attached to wealth and worldly desires.
For him, spiritual life was not simply about outward practices. It also involved looking within oneself.
One of the Kashmiri verses attributed to him reflects on the restless nature of the nafs (self, ego). The nafs can be understood as the inner self, including desires, impulses and attachments that can take a person away from spiritual awareness.
This idea gives another depth to Nund Rishi’s teachings. He was asking people to change the world around them, while also asking them to examine themselves.
Greed, pride, anger and excessive attachment to material things can affect a person’s character and relationships. His teachings therefore place importance on self-discipline and moral reflection.
These ideas remain relevant even outside religious settings. A society becomes stronger when individuals learn to control greed, respect others, help those in need and remain humble despite success.
Nund Rishi is often remembered alongside Lal Ded, or Lalleshwari, another great mystical figure of Kashmir. Both became important figures in the Valley’s spiritual and literary memory.
Kashmiri tradition also preserves stories connecting Lal Ded with Nund Rishi from his early childhood. One such traditional account says that Nund Rishi, as an infant, was reluctant to breastfeed. Lal Ded is said to have visited him and addressed him through words remembered in Kashmiri oral tradition: “If you are not ashamed of being born, why are you ashamed of being breastfed?”
The saying is remembered as part of the traditional narrative surrounding Lal Ded and the young Nund Rishi. Its simple wording reflects the direct style associated with Kashmir’s mystical oral tradition.
This episode, however, is best understood as a traditional account rather than a firmly established historical event. Details concerning a direct meeting between Lal Ded and Nund Rishi come largely through later oral and literary traditions.
Lal Ded and Nund Rishi came from different religious backgrounds, but both became part of Kashmir’s literary and spiritual history. Through their poetry, the themes of transformation, self-discovery, modesty, and detachment from attachment to the material world could be felt. Through their poetry, they contribute to making the Kashmiri language a potent vehicle for spiritual philosophy.
Nund Rishi’s continued importance comes from the fact that many of the problems he spoke about have not disappeared. His famous message can be viewed in light of present-day environmental problems. His call for equality and coexistence continues to be significant in the present world where societies have to face social and religious diversity. His lessons on compassion and self-restraint serve as a timely reminder in an era where success is sometimes valued more than virtue.
For Kashmir, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani is therefore much more than a figure from medieval history. His poetry remains part of the valley’s living literary and spiritual heritage.
His famous words, “Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshi,” can be understood today as a reminder that protecting nature is closely connected with protecting human life. At the same time, his teachings about the nafs remind us that caring for the outside world should go together with improving the world within ourselves.
That may be the enduring strength of Nund Rishi’s shruks. They were expressed centuries ago, yet they continue to speak about concerns that remain part of human life: faith, compassion, equality, humility, self-discipline, coexistence and respect for nature.
The Author is a writer, social educator, and researcher from Baramulla, and holds a master’s in Gender Studies and a BED.
shoiabhat2018@gmail.com
