The Nilamata Purana (Sanskrit: नीलमत पुराण, romanized: nīlamata purāṇa), also known as the Kasmira Mahatmya,[1] is an ancient text (4th to 8th century CE) from Kashmir which contains information on its history, geography, religion, and folklore.
The Nilamata opens with Janamejaya's inquiry from Vaisampayana as to why the king of Kashmir did not participate in the war of the Mahabharata although his kingdom was not less important than any other in the country.
Krishna killed Damodara in the fight but taking into consideration the high sanctity of Kashmir he crowned his rival's pregnant widow Yasovati.
Brahadasva gives at first the account of the divisions of time, the destruction of the world at the end of manvantara, the preservation of Manu and the seeds in a ship, the birth of the land and the lake, of Sati, the origin of various tribes from Kashyapa and Vishnu's allotment of Satisaras to the Nagas.
Having obtained boons from Brahma, the demon began to destroy the descendants of Manu dwelling in the lands of Darvabhisara, Gandbars Jubundura, the Sakas, the Khasas etc.
Seeing this devastation, Nila the king of the Nagas approached his father Kashyapa and prayed to him to intercede with the gods to punish the evil-doer and to save the innocent victims.
Thereafter is given the eulogy of the river Vitasta and the work ends with the remark that, as this treatise in the form of a dialogue between Janamejaya and Vaisampayana was not useful everywhere (i. e. was of local interest mainly), Vyasa did not include it in the Mahabharata lest that should become too exhaustive.
[3] In Georg Buhler’s words it is a real mine of information regarding the sacred places of Kashmir and legends which are required to explain the Rajatrangini.
such as the legend of Satisar lake, the battle between Kasyapa and Nagas and other mythical accounts with the historical names of Gonanda and Queen Yasomati.
This legend of lake is also found it Kalhana’s Rajatarangini in the Mahavamsa, the Chinese vinaya of the Mula Sarvastivadin sect and in travels of Hiuen Tsang.