Published Paper Details:

This paper explores the social life of the Nagas as depicted in the Nilamata Purana, focusing on their evolving relationship with humans and their role in shaping the cultural and social foundations of early Kashmir. Rather than viewing the Nagas as purely mythological entities, the study examines their active participation in the region's sacred geography and community development. Through narratives involving figures such as Jalodbhava, Candradeva, and King Nila, the text reveals how the Nagas mediated between divine will and human need, gradually enabling a shift from conflict to coexistence. The paper also investigates the social organization of the Naga community, as evidenced by extensive genealogical records and leadership hierarchies, suggesting a structured and functioning society. Themes of hospitality, spiritual authority, and cosmic regulation emerge throughout the text, reflecting the Nagas' significance beyond myth. The research highlights the Nilamata Purana not only as a religious text but also as a valuable source for understanding the cultural memory and early societal imagination of Kashmir, where the Nagas served as both symbols and agents of social order, environmental guardianship, and ritual continuity.