ESSENCE OF PURANAS SERIES
Chapter 3: Origin of Sati desha (Kashmira) and of Nagas
Condensed English Translation by Sri V.D.N. Rao
About the origin of the Kasmira Region in Bharat Desha, Sage Brihadashwa explained to King (Bala) Gonanda that at the end of each Manvantara, there was complete destruction of the Universe by Mahadeva who spread himself all over as water.
'Satidevi swayam kaaley tasminnotwam karoti vai,
Manurbhavishyamstasmimstu sarva beejaani Maayaya,
Tadaa sthaapayetey Raajamstaam cha naavam Jagadguruh/
Matsya rupadharo Vishnum shringey krutwaapakarshati/
(As Sati Devi herself assumed the Form of a Ship, the future Manu, Vaivaswata, collected all Seeds for subsequent germination and deposited these on the Ship by virtue of 'Maya'(Illusion) while Bhagavan Vishnu assuming the Incarnation of 'Matsya' dragged the Ship by the grit of his horn). The Ship was tied to a mountain-peak called 'Noubandhana'.
Nou-dehena Sati Devi Bhumirbhavati Parthiva,
Tasyaam thu Bhumou bhavati Sarastu vimalodakam /
Shadyojanaayatam ramyam tadardhena cha vistrutam,
Satideshamiti kyhatam Devikreedam manoharam/
(Devi Sati who assumed the Form of the Ship converted herself as Bhu Devi; the latter materialised an awe-inspiring Lake with excellent and pure water known as Sati Desha of six yojanas of length and three yojanas of width which was the joyous Playground of Devas!
Having described the origin of Kashmira, Sage Brihadashwa traced the origin of Nagas who were prime residents of Kashmira: At the beginning of Vaivaswata Manvantara, Daksha Prajapati married off thirteen of his illustrious daughters to Muni Kashyapa who was the son of Maharshi Marichi. Among these daughters, Aditi gave birth to Devas, Diti to Daityas, Danayusa to Vritra, Surabhi to Bhadras, Khas to Yakshas and Raakshasas, Ira to Airaavatas, Prava to ‘Gayanas’, Muni to Apsaras, Kala to Kala Kalpas and Kalakaayaas, Danu to Daanavas, Krodha to ten daughters of the same nature, Kadru to Nagas and Vinata to Garuda the Carrier of Vishnu Deva and Aruna the charioteer of Surya Deva. Kadru was extremely jealous of Devi Vinata and somehow desired to put her down. Kadru picked up an argument that the Celestial Horse Ucchhaiswara was black in her body colour and Vinata stated that the horse was white in her complexion. There was a bet beween the two sisters that whoever won would be another's slave and Vinata lost it since Kadru persuaded her sons to paint Ucchhaisvya black. Garuda brought 'Somarasa' from Indra to relieve his mother from the slavery to Kadru; Garuda secured a boon from Indra too that as a revenge on Kadru's cruelty against his mother Vinata, he could kill and eat the Nagas. On behalf of the race of Nagas, the Elder of Nagas viz. Vaasuki approached Janardana and extolled him as follows:
'Namastestu Shaaranga Gadaaaasipaano, Namamstestu tey Danava naashanaaya/ Namastestu tey Padmaja Samstutaaya, Namastestu tey Lokahitey rataaya/
Namastestu tey Vaasava Nandanaaya, Namastestutey Bhaktavarapradaaya/
Namastestutey Satpada darshanaaya, Unnidra neela nalinadyuti chaaruvarnam/
Samtapta haatakanibey vasaney vasaanam, Ksheerodaka kanyaarpita paada padmam/ Devam Prapannosmyanagham Varenyam, Param Puraanam Paramam Sanaatanam/ Tamaadi devam Pranatosmi Bhaktyaa,
Phanaavalii ratna Sahasraarchitrey
Seshasya bhogey Vimaley viseshye/
Lokasya sarvaasya tu chintayaanah
shubhaashubham raksha Mamaadyadeva,
Khagapatirati chandabheema vego/
Mama Kulamaashu vinaashayatyananta,
Kuru Munivara samstutaadya rakshaam/
Pavana balam vinivaarsva taaksharyam/
(My greetings to you Deva Deva Janaardana with your hands armed with Sharanga / Bow and arrows, Gada/ Mace and Asi / Sword; the destroyer of Daanavas; the One whom Brahma the lotus-born commends to; who is ever engaged in the deeds helpful to the Worlds; who seeks to provide happiness to Indra; who bestows boons to the devotees; who guides the path of righteousness and virtue; who rests his lotus like feet on the lap of 'Samudra Kanya' wearing clothes of molten gold's illumination and possessive of blue lotus body colour and who relaxes on the thousand hoods lit up with the varied hues of the precious gems of Maha Sesha but engrossed in the thoughts to provide relief and protection to the Tri Lokas! Adi Deva! The most powerful Garuda appears to destroy my entire 'Vamsha' of Nagas with his speed and might; do grant the race security and protection to ensure our existence!) Bhagavan Vishnu then assured Vasuki that Garuda or any of his clan would neither attack nor hurt Nagas in Sati Dehsa any more.
'Satidevi swayam kaaley tasminnotwam karoti vai,
Manurbhavishyamstasmimstu sarva beejaani Maayaya,
Tadaa sthaapayetey Raajamstaam cha naavam Jagadguruh/
Matsya rupadharo Vishnum shringey krutwaapakarshati/
(As Sati Devi herself assumed the Form of a Ship, the future Manu, Vaivaswata, collected all Seeds for subsequent germination and deposited these on the Ship by virtue of 'Maya'(Illusion) while Bhagavan Vishnu assuming the Incarnation of 'Matsya' dragged the Ship by the grit of his horn). The Ship was tied to a mountain-peak called 'Noubandhana'.
Nou-dehena Sati Devi Bhumirbhavati Parthiva,
Tasyaam thu Bhumou bhavati Sarastu vimalodakam /
Shadyojanaayatam ramyam tadardhena cha vistrutam,
Satideshamiti kyhatam Devikreedam manoharam/
(Devi Sati who assumed the Form of the Ship converted herself as Bhu Devi; the latter materialised an awe-inspiring Lake with excellent and pure water known as Sati Desha of six yojanas of length and three yojanas of width which was the joyous Playground of Devas!
Having described the origin of Kashmira, Sage Brihadashwa traced the origin of Nagas who were prime residents of Kashmira: At the beginning of Vaivaswata Manvantara, Daksha Prajapati married off thirteen of his illustrious daughters to Muni Kashyapa who was the son of Maharshi Marichi. Among these daughters, Aditi gave birth to Devas, Diti to Daityas, Danayusa to Vritra, Surabhi to Bhadras, Khas to Yakshas and Raakshasas, Ira to Airaavatas, Prava to ‘Gayanas’, Muni to Apsaras, Kala to Kala Kalpas and Kalakaayaas, Danu to Daanavas, Krodha to ten daughters of the same nature, Kadru to Nagas and Vinata to Garuda the Carrier of Vishnu Deva and Aruna the charioteer of Surya Deva. Kadru was extremely jealous of Devi Vinata and somehow desired to put her down. Kadru picked up an argument that the Celestial Horse Ucchhaiswara was black in her body colour and Vinata stated that the horse was white in her complexion. There was a bet beween the two sisters that whoever won would be another's slave and Vinata lost it since Kadru persuaded her sons to paint Ucchhaisvya black. Garuda brought 'Somarasa' from Indra to relieve his mother from the slavery to Kadru; Garuda secured a boon from Indra too that as a revenge on Kadru's cruelty against his mother Vinata, he could kill and eat the Nagas. On behalf of the race of Nagas, the Elder of Nagas viz. Vaasuki approached Janardana and extolled him as follows:
'Namastestu Shaaranga Gadaaaasipaano, Namamstestu tey Danava naashanaaya/ Namastestu tey Padmaja Samstutaaya, Namastestu tey Lokahitey rataaya/
Namastestu tey Vaasava Nandanaaya, Namastestutey Bhaktavarapradaaya/
Namastestutey Satpada darshanaaya, Unnidra neela nalinadyuti chaaruvarnam/
Samtapta haatakanibey vasaney vasaanam, Ksheerodaka kanyaarpita paada padmam/ Devam Prapannosmyanagham Varenyam, Param Puraanam Paramam Sanaatanam/ Tamaadi devam Pranatosmi Bhaktyaa,
Phanaavalii ratna Sahasraarchitrey
Seshasya bhogey Vimaley viseshye/
Lokasya sarvaasya tu chintayaanah
shubhaashubham raksha Mamaadyadeva,
Khagapatirati chandabheema vego/
Mama Kulamaashu vinaashayatyananta,
Kuru Munivara samstutaadya rakshaam/
Pavana balam vinivaarsva taaksharyam/
(My greetings to you Deva Deva Janaardana with your hands armed with Sharanga / Bow and arrows, Gada/ Mace and Asi / Sword; the destroyer of Daanavas; the One whom Brahma the lotus-born commends to; who is ever engaged in the deeds helpful to the Worlds; who seeks to provide happiness to Indra; who bestows boons to the devotees; who guides the path of righteousness and virtue; who rests his lotus like feet on the lap of 'Samudra Kanya' wearing clothes of molten gold's illumination and possessive of blue lotus body colour and who relaxes on the thousand hoods lit up with the varied hues of the precious gems of Maha Sesha but engrossed in the thoughts to provide relief and protection to the Tri Lokas! Adi Deva! The most powerful Garuda appears to destroy my entire 'Vamsha' of Nagas with his speed and might; do grant the race security and protection to ensure our existence!) Bhagavan Vishnu then assured Vasuki that Garuda or any of his clan would neither attack nor hurt Nagas in Sati Dehsa any more.