Sacred: Fire in the Snow - Lad Ded

Step into the world of Lal Ded, Kashmir’s legendary mystic poetess of the 14th century, whose verses have shaped the spiritual and cultural landscape of the region. This episode of Sacred delves into the remarkable journey of Lalleshwari—born into a Kashmiri Pandit family, married young, and subjected to harsh treatment by her in-laws. Renouncing worldly life at age 26, Lal Ded began wandering as a devotee of Lord Shiva, composing her profound vakhs—four-line philosophical poems that challenged social conventions and gave voice to universal truth, resilience, and compassion.

Celebrated equally by Hindus and Muslims and often referred to as “Mother Lalla,” she became a bridge between Shaivism and Sufism, influencing not only her contemporaries but also generations that followed. Her teachings promoted inner reflection, sought to transcend ritualistic boundaries, and inspired a tradition of mystical poetry and spiritual inquiry.

Join us as we explore Lal Ded’s life, her spiritual philosophy, her poetry’s lasting impact on Kashmiri language and literature, and the stories that have made her an enduring symbol of wisdom, courage, and devotion.

Chapters

00:00 - 01:02 - Opening
01:03 - 03:57 - The legacy of Lal Ded
03:58 - 06:41 - The tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism
06:42 - 09:17 - The early life of Lal Ded
09:18 - 14:31 - Lal Ded and the Bhakti movement
14:32 - 17:45 - Different strains of mysticism in Kashmir
17:46 - 18:27- Kashmir as a centre of Hindu thought
18:28 - 22:51 - Lal Ded, the cornerstone of spirituality in Kashmir
22:52 - 24:38 - Giving up the desire to attain enlightenment
24:39 - 28:29 - Closing