Early History of Kashmir defines the era of Aryan settlement and it has the mythological similarities. It is said that Kashmir is the house of ten lost tribes of the world.
Beginning of the History of Kashmir
According to the Indian folklore the name "Kashmir" means the "desiccated land". It is defined in the Rajatarangini of Kalhana. In the mid-12th century it is stated that the valley of Kashmir was formerly a lake. While according to Hindu mythology, the lake was drained by the great rishi or sage, Kashyapa, son of Marichi, son of Brahma, by cutting the gap in the hills at Baramulla, now the Baramulla District of Jammu and Kashmir.
Early Dynasties in Kashmir
It is noted that Kashmir was formed by Sage Kashyapa. His son Neel was the first ruler of Kashmir. He ruled Kashmir before 10000 BC. The details of his rule in Kashmir are given in Neelmat Purana. After the rule of Neel, Kashmir witnessed many dynastical rules like Gonand Dynasty, Pandava Dynasty, Kushan Dynasty, Mehrkul, Karkota Dynasty, Meghawan, Didda, and Rinchan.
Historical References and Kashmir
Kashmir and its valley had taken a large portion than the modern Jammu and Kashmir, which is now governed by Indian Government. According to the Hindu mythology, Kashmir was formerly a lake. That lake was drained by Sage Kashyapa. When Kashmir had been drained, Kashyapa asked Brahmans to settle there. From that time, in the early history and the pre historic era, this area in India was known as Kashyapapura, which has been identified with Kaspapyros of Hecataeus and Kaspatyros of Herodotus. Kashmir is also believed to be the country meant by Ptolemy`s Kaspeiria. Cashmere is an archaic spelling of Kashmir, and in some countries it is still spelled this way.
Kashmir in Indian Epic- Mahabharata
According to the Mahabharata, the Kamboja Dynasty ruled Kashmir during the epic period with a Republican system of government from the capital city of Karna-Rajapuram-gatva-Kambojah-nirjitastava, shortened to Rajapura, which has been identified with modern Rajauri District in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the references of Archaeological Survey of India.
Ruling of Kashmir by Panchalas
Later, the Panchala Dynasty established their government before 5th century BC, and at that time, India was largely categorised into 16 Mahajanapadas. The Panchalas are stated to have established their sway. The name Pir Panjal Range is driven from Panchala kingdom which is a part of modern Kashmir Valley and Kashmir region. Panjal is simply a distorted form of the Sanskrit tribal term Panchala.
Downfall of Hindu Kings in Kashmir
After the successful rule in India by the Hindu kings for long 1000 years, the incapable Hindu kings were defeated by the Muslim invaders. It was 1346, the year of the advent of Muslim invaders and thus ends the rule of Hindu monarchy in Kashmir and the beginning of medieval era in Kashmir. During this time, a multitude of Hindu shrines were destroyed, and Hindu Kashmiri Pandits were forced to embrace Islam religion.
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