History of kashmir / prehistoric kashmir
Kashmir is an ancient area. According to the tradition, kashmir takes its name from a sage Kashyap who lived on the bank of a mountain lake called satisar. He drained this lake and the reclaimed land was called kashyap-pur or kashyap-mar and later kashmir. It seems that the name kashmir comes from two sanskrit words ''ka'' (water) and ''shimira'' (dry up) i,e., dried up land. The kashmiris in their native tongue call kashmir's as kashir.
The origin of kashmir before it assumed the present form and shape; we have two types of evidences : one is the folklore recorded in the religious litreature and chronicles of kashmir, and second is the scientific evidence based on sustained scientific research.
According to Nilmatapurana, kashmir was for six Manvantras a lake, 1 manvantras is equal to 50 years, the lake was called Satisara, the lake of Sati. Also scientifically It comes about millions of years and according to some scholars, a Yogna is equal to eighteen miles.
Thus according to nilmatpurana, kashmir was orginally a vast lake and it continued to be so for million of years. How this lake ultimately dried out, a myth has been concocted that there lived a demon _Jalodhabhava, in this lake who frequently used to harass the people. The sage Kashyapa, who is considered father of all Nagas, while on his pilgrimage in the north of India came into the cause of this distress from his Son Nila, the king of kashmir Naga. The sage, determined to punish the devil, proceeded to Brahma to with his and other Gods help for this purpose. His prayer was granted.
All the gods by Brahmas command started for Satisaras and took up their positions on the lofty peaks above Kaunsarnag. The demon who was invicible in his own element, refused to come forth from the lake. Vishnu, thereupon, called on his brother, Balabhadra, to drain the lake, which he did by piercing the mountain with his ploughshare . When the lake had dried up, Jalodhbhava was attacked by vishnu and after a fierce combat was slain with His war-disc
The valley of kashmir wears a unique. geographical position having a flat plain bordered by Wudar uplands and surrounded by an unbroken ring of mountains ---
Nanga Parbat to the north
Harmukh to the east
Mahadeo to the south
Pir pantsal to the south-west
Tosmaidan to the further north
And kajinag to the north-west.
With the wuddars uplands and hillocks occupying more than half of the valley.
Kashmir is divided into many side valleys and dotted by numerous springs, nallas, lakes, rivers and marshes..
According to the ancient text of kashmir Nilmatpurana, kashmir was a lake for six Manvantras and this lake was called satisar or sati. This lake was six Yogna long and three Yogna Broad. Manvantras is millions of years and according to some scholars, yogna is equal to 18 miles. So according to Nilmatpurana, kashmir was originally a lake which was so vast and it continued to be a lake for million of years. But how this lake dried up nothing can be said. But there is a saying that there lived a Demon whose name was Jalodhbhava, who used to distress the people of kashmir, a sage named Kashyapa, who was the father of all Nagas, on his pilgrimage in north india heard about the distress caused by the Demon Jalodhbhava from his son Nila.
The sage determined to punish this Demon, proceeded to Brahma to implore him and other Gods for the help. His prayers were Granted , All the Gods by the command of brahma took up their position on the peaks of kashmir above kaunsarnag. The Demon who was invincible, refused to come out, Vishnu thereupon, called his Brother, Balabdhara, to Drain the lake, which he did by piercing the mountain with his ploughshare. When the lake had dried up, The Demon Jalodbhava was attacked by vishnu and a long combat was slain His war disc.
The sage Kashyapa then settled the land, which had thus been produced. And the land was to be called on the name of kashyapa as kashyapmar and later kashmir.
While giving allowances for the myth concocted to serve an ideology, what is interesting about this tradition is that it contains a truth of geological ages , when the valley of kashmir was really a vast lake. Its supported by the scientific e evidences.
According to the scientists, some 40 lakh years ago kashmir was a huge lake . And this lake dried up because of the tectonic collisions and the water drained out from baramulla. The wudars karewa which covered about half of the valley are the formed only with the water.
Post a Comment