Nilamat Purana

Author: Nila Muni
Date: 6 to 8 century A.D.

Nilamat Purana is mentioned by Kalhana as one of the sources of the ancient history of Kashmir. In 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. It is a valuable source of the cultural life of ancient Kashmir. 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 Rajatrangini, in the Mahavamsa, the Chinese vinaya of the Mula Sarvastivadin sect and in travels of Hiuen Tsang.

The manuscript Aurel Stein had, was dated to lokak Samt 81 corresponding to 1705-6. From 1932 started work on Nilamat Purana in West. Dutch scholar Vogel appointed his pupil K. De. Vreese of Leiden University on the task of its publication. Vreese did his work and in 1936 Nilamat Purana was published in Sanskrit in Roman letters from Voolberg. Ram Lal Kanjilal and Jagaddhar Zadoo compiled the edition published in 1924. There were inexplicable lacunae in it.

Important Works on Nilamat Purana

1936 – Nilamata Purana. Leiden.Lohore. Punjab Sanskrit Series ( De Vreese. Translation: Ramlal Kanjilal & Jagaddhar Zadoo)

1994 – A Study of the Nilamata. Aspect of Hinduism in Ancient Kashmir. Kyoto (Ikari, Yasuke)

1968 – The Nilamata Purana : A cultural & Literary Study of a Kashmiri Purana. Srinagar-Jammu. JKAACL. Vol. 1 ( Ved Kumari)

1973 – The Nilamata Purana: A Critical Edition & English Translation. JKAACL. Vol. 2 ( Ved Kumari)

1994 – Brahmins of Kashmir. In: A Study of Nilamata. Aspects of Hinduism in Ancient Kashmir. Kyoto. 237-294. (Witzel, Michael. Edited by Yasuke Ikari.)

1994 – Kashmiri Manuscript and Pronunciation. In: A study of Nilamata. Aspect of Hinduism in Ancient Kashmir. Kyoto. 1-53 (Witzel, Michael. Edited by Yasuke Ikari.)

1994 – Description of Temples and Tirthas in the Nilamatapurana. Verses. 989-1356a. A study of the Nilamata – Aspect of Hinduism in Ancient Kashmir. Kyoto. 399-421 ( Tokunaga, Muneo. Ed. By Yasuke Ikari)

1994 – Map of Ancient Tirthas in Kashmir valley. A study of the Nilamata – Aspect of Hinduism in Ancient Kashmir. Kyoto. ( Ikari, Yasuke).

From the works of  Muzaffar Ahmad Choudhry.