Sumit Sharma

History of Kashmir.

The name, Kashmir, is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘kasmira’ which literally means ‘from water’.

The word Kashmir is thought to have been derived from two Sanskrit words Ka & Shmira

According to ancient mythology, Kashmir is the land desiccated from water. The Kashmir was a lake named as Satisar and a demon used to live in it & it was drained by the great Rishi or sage, Kashyapa, son of Marichi, son of Brahma, by cutting the gap in the hills at Baramulla (VarahaMula). When Kashmir had been drained, Kashyapa asked Brahmins to settle there. The Kashmir is also thought have been named after sage Kashyapa. Accordingly, Kashmir would be derived from either Kashyapa-Mir (Kashyapa’s Lake) or Kashyapa-Meru (Kashyapa’s Mountain).

In Kashmiri Language it is called as ‘kasir’ & Kashmiri people are called ‘kasir’ (sing. kasur)

Ancient Names of Kashmir are Kashyapamar, kasmira, Kashyapa-mira, Kasperia, Kashyapa-pura, Kasheer, Kashmir Valley.