Jammu and Kashmir not only beholds beauty but also carries some mystic and alluring tales of the region right from pre-historic times. We retell some of these fabulous tales covered in mystery and awe.
# According to geologists, Kashmir was once a huge lake called the Karewa, formed by the blocking of the river Jhelum. As time flowed, the river formed a deep gorge through the Pir Panjal range at Uri and followed a new way. Thus, the waters of Karewa gradually drained and created the valley of Kashmir. Corals and other marine fossils can still be found in this region.
# The name of Kashmir has also quite a few legends. As per Kalhana's Rajtaringini Kashmir valley was a vast lake which served as the home of a very cruel and terrible demon called Bahudev, the giant devil of Satisar. The great saint Kashyap, the grandson of Brahma, went on a pilgrimage to the place. After reaching their the people of the place requested him to save them from the might of the demon.
He reached Naukabandan near Kaunsarnag and drained this lake with the help of Goddess Parvati by letting the water of the lake flow out near Baramulla. After the lake was drained, the goddess finally crushed the demon to death by dropping a mountain on him. This mountain is now known as the Hari Parbat. And the rest of the place was created into a valley. Thus, the place came to be known as Kashyapmar.
# Another belief is that the place is named after the people of the Kash caste, who settled there permanently.
# Surinsar is a beautiful lake situated about 42 km from Jammu, in Jammu and Kashmir. Bordered by hills and covered with dense forest, the lake is a favorite picturesque spot in the state. During summer, the lake is covered with lotus flowers. Legend says that Arjuna, the legendary hero of the Mahabharata, shot an arrow into the ground at Mansar. The arrow came out at Surinsar and thus both lakes - Surinsar Lake and Mansar Lake were created.
# Another hot debate surrounding this place is related to Jesus. According to some beleifs, Jesus survived crucifixion, travelled to Kashmir, adopted the name of Yus Asaf and is buried at Rozabal near Srinagar. It was in 1887 when Russian anthropologist Nicholas Notovic, in his book Unknown Life of Jesus Christ, claimed that he had seen documents in Ladakh’s Hemis monastery describing Jesus’s years from 12 to 30 BCE in India.
The St. Issa Scroll found in the monastery records the travels of a Jewish boy to the East, a fact that Nicholas believe explains the absence of documentation regarding Jesus’ life in the Gospels between the ages of 12 and 30 and also support the theory that Jesus was buried in Kashmir following the crucifixion.
Another text that supports the theory that Jesus was buried in Kashmir is the Bhavishya Maha Purana, the ninth book of the eighteen texts considered holy by Hindus. This text records the encounter between king Shalivahan and Jesus Christ, long after the crucifixion. In this passage, Jesus describes himself as being born of a virgin and as the Son of God.
The description of Jesus in the Bhavishya Maha Purana records him as being fair skinned as wearing a white garment. Historians contend that this document has great value because, unlike the Gospels, it can be traced to be a specific date, the year 115 CE, which according to the account that Jesus lived 120 years, would have taken place five years prior to Jesus’ death.
Historians who believe that the Kashmir tomb is that in which Jesus is buried, also point to the fact that the parables attributed to Jesus in the Gospels, such as the parable of the Sower, were attributed to Yus Asaf, as found in historical recordings.
To conclude these are just part of folklore and popular beliefs and may not have any reason, reality or credible evidence in them just like so many of our beliefs in our life and just read them like you would any other folktales.
