Kashmir, the crowning glory of our country, was, originally a huge body of water. An interesting narrative in the Nilmata Purana describes the origin of this valley from the Satisar Lake. The demon Jalodhbhava was blessed with immortality by Lord Brahma, as long as he was in the waters of the Satisar lake. His demonic behaviour towards the Nagas and the humans in the valley forced Sage Kashyapa and his son Nila to seek help from Lord Vishnu. The mighty God emptied the Satisaras and destroyed the asura with his chakrayudha (discus). With all the water drained from the valley, Sage Kashyap approached the three Devis — Parvathi, Lakshmi and Saraswathi — beseeching them to flow down from the heavens. Parvathi surged out as Vitastha (Jhelum), originating from the Verinag spring in the Pir Panjal range; Goddess Lakshmi cascaded as the Veshaw River and Mata Saraswathi flowed down as the Rumbiara River reviving the lifeless place. This lush valley came to be named as Kashmir (Kashyapa’s lake) after Sage Kashyapa.