ANANTNAG TOWN OF KASHMIR

 

 

ANANTNAG  TOWN

Ananatnag has been a great centre of the ancient Sanskrit civilization of Kashmir. It finds its mention in the Hindu mythology as a place where Lord Shiva dropped his numerous serpents on his way to Amarnath cave. Hence it got this name meaning ‘countless’ (Anant) ‘serpents (Nag)’. In Bhagvada Gita, the city finds its citation as ‘I am Anantnag’. This era is believed to have the strongest impact on the nomenclature of Anantnag. In Sanskrit, Anant means infinite and Naag refers to springs in Kashmiri language. Hence it can also be said that  Anantnag got this name due to the numerous springs originating from this place. This fact validated by local historians as well as by  Nialmata Purana. According to Aurel Stein, Anantnag comes from the great spring Anant Naga issuing at the centre of the town. This is also corroborated by Kalhana according to whom the town has taken the name of this great spring of Sesha or Anant Naga or land of countless springs. With its existence since 5000 BC, it is one of the oldest human establishments in the world. It is said that before 1320 when Muslims had not ascended in this region, the whole Kashmir was segregated into three different divisions that included Yamraj in its center, Maraj towards the South and Kamraj towards North.

 

 Anantnag is about 55 km from Srinagar city, well connected by road and train . Anantnag is a place of riveting springs , babbling springs , tree clad mountains , meadows , orchards , brooks , ancient religious archeological sites  and picturesque destinations.The ancient Teertha of Martand ,the Amarnath Ice Linga Shrine ,Martand Sun Temple ( destroyed by Sikander Butshikan ) , ancient Vijyeshwara  shrine (completely demolished by by Sikander Butshikan ) ,Achhabal Mughal gardens , Verinaag Mughal  gardens , Bumzu caves , Aishmuqam Shrine and the Nagdandi Vivekananda Kendra fall in this district . Pahalgham . Kokkernaag, Daksum and some more tourist resorts  fall in this area. Near Anantnag,  three glacial  streams namely Arapath, Bringi and Sandran confluence together and join Vitasta river . Another stream Liddar [Lamboodri] also joins the flow with them at a little distance downstream from the town. The trekking routes of this area  are ,the Pahalgham-Amar Nath cave trek, Pahalgham-Kargil trek, Pahalgham-Kolhai glacier trek and Daksum-Kishtwar trek via Simthen pass. This district has 17 blocks with a population of about 11 lakh. Anantnag covered entire south Kashmir before its bifurcation into Anantnag and Pulwama in 1979. The districts of Anantnag and Pulwama later got sub-divided into Kulgam and Shopian, in 2007.

( Avtar Mota )

 

 

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