According to present opinion the name KASHMIR may come from a sage name KASHYAP. However, we have to reach near nature for the name origin of Kashmir.
The sanskrit word KASH means brightness and MIR means ocean or sea. Jointly means ocean of brightness or highlight. Now we have to find out the ocean in practical. According to historical book RAJTARANGINI of twelfth century and NILMAT PURAN, the entire Kashmir velly was a vast lake. At present its area is 7500Sq. KM. for decreasing. In spite of decreasing its area is larger than the Sikkim. As to Purana sage Kashyap removed the lake-water and it became habitable for man. Again present geographers admit the existense of vast lake. As them for the change of earth surface the Khandinara mountain of Baramula becomes very low and the water of vast lake comes out. For the memory vast lake kept the present Dal and Ural laeks of small areas. The famous Pirpanjal mountains of Jammu and Kasmir state has divided the Kashmir Velly from the rest of India. Jawahar, Pirpanjal, Bundilpir mountain passes are the only entrance for rest India to enjoy the beauty of world famous Kashmir velly. The ancient river Vitasta is known today as Jhilam. The Jhilam is the life line of Kashmir velly. The Verrag waterfall is situated on east - south of the velly. The waterfall created the Jhilam. The Jhilam flows through the Kashmir velly and goes out near Baramula. In ancient the water of Jhilam created a vast lake in the Kashmir velly. In simple sense the vast lake might be thought as Mahasagar or Ocean. The lake would very brightful for the rays of Moon or Sun. The reflections were very beautiful and attractive. The whole brightness was the main cause of beauty. The brightness and vastness were the speciality of the lake. For this reason the word MIR was added with KASH and become the name KASHMIR. In course the name came out from velly and extended to outside of velly.
Manipur : The name Manipur is formed in the Mahabharata. Today Manipur is a small state of India. The Manipuri Dance is world famous for its speciality and sweetness. The natural scenery of Manipur is
very beautiful. The river velly is surounded by the hills, full of green and blue forest. The main river of the state is Imfal. The river enters Burma and meets river Chanduin. Again Chanduin meets Iravati. At last the
Iravati falls in the Bay of Bengal. According to modern geographers, the Manipur velly of Manipur state was a vast lake in first phase. In course of time the lake water converted to plain land. The present Loctac
lake reminds the past vast lake.
The meaning of sanskrit word MANI is water - reservoir. Again a lake was also a water- reservoir. In this case the past vast lake may be called as Mani. The new plain land created by Imfal was named according Mani by adding PUR, a word for place name, became MANIPUR. In course, the name extended all sides. In conclusion we may say - the nature of Bharat is very wonderful. No doubt the land- names are hidden in the diversity of Bharat.