Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.426

c6.426

Kāśmīra (Kāśmīra).—Kāśmīra, the Kasperia of Ptolemy, is mentioned in the Nāgārjunikoṇḍa Inscriptions of Vīrapuruṣadatta. This city was known to Pāṇini (4. 2. 133) and to Patañjali (3. 2. 2., pp. 188-189, l. 1. 6, p. 276). It is also mentioned in the Yoginītantra (1/3, 2/9, p. 77). The Bṛhat-saṃhitā also mentions it as a country (xiv. 29). It lies to the north of the Punjab. It saw interesting developments in literature, religion and philosophy The Divyāvadāna (p. 399) refers to this beautiful city. In the Avadānaśataka (p. 67) and in the Bodhisattvāvadānakalpalatā (70th pallava), this city was peopled solely by the Nāgas. The author of the Sragdharāstotram was a Buddhist monk of Kāśmīra. A monk named Madhyantika was sent to this place as a missionary by his spiritual guide Ānanda (B. C. Law, Geographical Essays, p. 45). According to the Kauṭilīya-Arthaśāstra, diamond (vajra) was available in this city.