Entire Bharatakhanda (modern India) was submerged in water due to terrible inundation. Periodically as time passed water receded and the area became worthy for habitation. While the whole of Indian subcontinent could recoup the lap of Himalaya still had some region which was still deluged under water. From this stagnate water volcano erupted and a lovely place took shape since this region was formed due to the fire from volcano it was called “Satidesh” where the word “Sa” meant “From the power of Fire. Then it was Rishi Kashyapa who made the land able to cultivate and he was successful in requesting Maharudradeva to use his Trident to strike the earth from which flowed the river “Vitasta” which is now in modern era named as “Jehlum”. This river was the source to quenching thirst and for irrigating as well.
In no time that area became heaven on earth and it was
called Vaitastika. Rishi Kashyapa named
his son Neel as the in charge to look after the place and its inhabitants. With
the land becoming so prosperous and its fame was heard in the court of Indra,
the King of Devas. Indra was curious to see the land which was called “Heaven
on Earth” and he took his wife Sachidevi on a trip to this land. On the arrival
of the heavenly couple, Neel made all arrangements for their comfortable stay. One
evening when the couple were walking on the banks of River Vitasta a ferocious demon
tried to kidnap Sachidevi and attacked Indra. Using Vajrayudha (thunder bolt) Indra
was able to kill the demon and left for Indraloka. The people of Satisar who
came to know about this brawl came to the spot to find an infant beside the
body of the demon. They picked up the infant and handed over him to Neel. Neel
brought him up as his son by providing educated and teaching him the art of
warfare. Since the child had been lifted from the water-splashed bank of the
lake he was called Jalodbhava.
As Jalodbhava grew up he did penance and got a boon
from Lord Brahma, he asked Brahma he would not be killed by Chakra used by
Vishnu or Trident used by Shiva. After obtaining the boon Jalobhava became
arrogant and started to harass the people in the valley. He invited people from
the neighbouring land and kicked out the inhabitants (history has repeated same
as how Kashmir Pandits were driven out). Neel tried hard to calm down the situation
with all his strength but failed to control it. He tried to stop migration of
those who were the original people of the place but everybody thought it was better
to migrate to any part of Bharatakhanda to escape death because of the dance of
destruction started by Jalodbhava. So there was a huge migration of
inhabitants.
Rishi Kashyapa who was on pilgrimage learnt about it
and returned back to the place and took stock of the situation. He went to Maha
Vishnu and Maharudradeva requesting them to help him. But the boon given by
Brahma was that their respective weapons the Chakra and Trishul would not kill
Jalodbhava. Pondering over this boon Maha Vishnu gave Maharudradeva His Charka
and took the Trishul from him. This exchange of weapons happened and both of
them were able to kill Jalodbhava.
The death of Jalodbhava those who had left the place
returned back. Neel again had the hold on the land and all of them expressed
their gratitude to Rishi Kashyapa who reinstalled the place and from then on it
was called “Kashyapa pura”. This entire story is mentioned in Neelmata Purana
which was compiled thousands of years ago.
On the lighter note:
A representative from India began to talk at U.N
regarding Kashmir issue. He said, “Before beginning my talk I want to tell you
something about Rishi Kashyapa, after whom Kashmir was named. He wanted to take
bath and so he stuck a rock and it brought forth water. He removed his clothes,
put them aside on the rock and entered the water. When he got out and wanted to
dress, his clothes had vanished. A Pakistani had stolen them.”
The Pakistani representative jumped up furiously and
shouted, “What are you talking about? The Pakistanis weren’t there then.”
The Indian representative smiled and said, “And now
that we have made that clear, I will begin my speech. And they say Kashmir
belongs to them..................................................
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