Kashmir - Origin and Meaning

Kashmir is called paradise on earth—due to its natural magnificence. The stunning mountains, fabulous springs, magical waterfalls, snow covered peaks and the entire splendor one can dream is there in the valley called Kashmir. Kashmir is situated in heart of Himalaya and Karakorum.

The geographical situation of Kashmir is such that it is covered in mountains and has no international relations due to foreign powers grip on area. That’s why world is unaware of many breathtaking and wonderful aspects of this bliss land.

The word ‘Kashmir’ always remained as a matter of debate for history writers and discoverer.  There are so many stories told by different people about this name yet many history writers wrote and try to provide a logical and authentic meaning or reason for this name as for as their research and exploration is concerned. 

Some of such examples are:

Pandat Kulhan writes in his famous book “Raj Tarangi” that in pre historic era this part of world was under water and a deep lake was situated here—which was called ‘Sati Sar’ lake. And a giant monster had hidden under water in this lake. That monster not only annoyed people living around the lake but also eat them. People of the area were continuously bothered by the giant so much but were incapable of getting rid of him. Then a man having spiritual powers “Kaship Rashi” came to this area and people of the area told him about the monster and how they are suffering from his cruelty. Kaship Rashi dried all the water using his spiritual powers. As the giant monster came out it was killed by sliding a mountain. From lake drying a plain valley came out which was called ‘Kaship Mir’ means land vacant by Kaship. So according to this custom the old name of Kashmir was ‘Kaship Mir’ and with the passage of time it was modified to Kashmir.

Muhammad Saeed Asad in his book ‘Jammu o Kashmir book of knowledge’ writes that according to a custom Kashmir was previously called “Tat saru bohmeiow” which means land of Therthu—this word means water spring and it is also a family name. The first and most known Thert was ‘Neil Nag Chashma’.

Many people say that he was the son of Kaship Rashi. His birth place was the water spring in ‘veer e nag town’. In pre historic time people of Kashmir worship the water springs and such water springs were present in enormous number in Kashmir. The excess of water springs throughout Kashmir was the reason to call this area ‘Tat saru bohmeiow’

 Some writers write that in 558(BC) a group of Bani Israel people came to the area from Syria. When they felt the fresh air, water and climate of the area they called it ‘kah sheer’ kah is a Hebrew word means "just like" and esheer means like Syria. So Bani Israel called this place like Syria in pre historic time which became ‘Kashmir’ as the time passed. Native Kashmiri speaker still calls it ‘kah sheer’.

It’s also written in literature that when Bani Israel came to the area and saw that people of Kashmir have no faith on any Holy Book and they eat without slaughtering the animals which they were also offered, they refused and replied ‘iss chay kahshar’ meaning we eat halal. In Hebrew Kahshar means a person who eats halal. From Kahshar it turned out Kashmir.

Some history writer told that this name came from ‘kass’ and ‘mera’. It is said that whole Kashmir was a lake and kass means lake water and mera means dry land. So combining these words will give meaning as a lake whose water is dried. Later it was called as Kashmir.

It is also said that Kashmir is a combination of ‘kis’ and ‘mir’. Kis means steam and mir means high place. So a high place with plenty of steams.

I believe history of name Kashmir is disputed issues as Kashmir issue its self.

Dua><(((:>

 Shafaq