If the Rajatarangini is important from the point of view of political history of ancient Kashmir, the 6 th century Kashmir text- Nilamatapurana is important for the record of its old cultural history. The Nilamatapurana is not only important for verifying the names of kings and kingdoms but also for getting an insight into the entire life of the people of Kashmir.

All phases and aspects of Kashmir’s ancient culture, its religion and philosophy, its mythology and ethics, its theism and pantheism, its fasts and feasts, its rites and ceremonies and superstitions. All are reflected in it. Following the publication of the first ever edition of the Nilamatapurana in 1924 from Lahore by Pandit Ramjilal Kanjilal and Pandit Jagadhar Zadoo, the son of late Pandit Durga Prasad of Jaipur, the Editor of Kavyamala also became interested to edit the text but not without the intermediary role of Aurel Stein.

Folio of Nilamatapurana manuscript (Devanagari script) Raghunath Temple Library, Jammu

“I have to use this occasion to trouble you as Curator of the Indian Institute with a request . you may be aware that my collection of Sanskrit manuscripts was deposited there in 1912 on certain conditions and a catalogue of the same published in the JARS of the same year. The son of late Durga Prasad of Jaipur, Editor of Kavyamala has asked me for my copies of an old and good manuscript of the Nilamatapurana for the purpose of a decent edition. I am prepared to let him have the two manuscripts of my collection Nos 84 and 270, provided he complies to certain conditions of mine.

“So I should feel greatly obliged if you could arrange for these two manuscripts to be dispatched to me at my address as above by Registered Book Post. For safety’s sake I should like to have manuscript 84 dispatched by one week’s mail and No 270 by next week’s mail. In each case I must ask that the manuscripts should be very carefully packed between card-boards and duly protected against damp by use of the wax cloth. As you are aware the postal regulations permit packets to be completely wrapped up at the ends also provided that no seals are used. These precautions are distinctly desirable in view of the approaching monsoon.” - Sir Aurel Stein.

(in a letter dated May 26, 1928, by Sir Aurel Stein to Dr. F. W. Thomas, Curator, Indian Institute, Oxford.) Stein Mss 109, Bodleian library, Oxford.

However the intended work did not take off.

But Vogel’s pupil K. de. Vreese in Holland in 1932 took the work as the subject of his doctoral thesis. It was an attempt that no European had made before.

“It is many years since I had the pleasure of exchanging letters with you. But although you have not heard from me for such a long time, you may be sure that I have not forgotten you. I hope that you are keeping good health. May I venture to trouble you with a request on behalf of one of my pupils, Mr. K. de. Vreese who is writing his Doctor’s thesis and has selected the Nilamatapurana for his subject. You know no doubt the printed edition of this work was brought out by Pandit Ramjilal and J. Zadoo( Lahore 1924). Mr K. de. Vreese who is preparing a new edition and translation of the Nilamatapurana is very anxious to consult some manuscripts, mentioned in the preface of Lahore edition, in particular, the old manuscript belonging to Pandit Srikantha Rajanaka and the modern manuscript belonging to your good-self. We shall feel much obliged by your kindly agreeing to send us the two manuscripts on loan for a few months. They me be sent to my address. In case there is any objection to the manuscripts being sent out of Kashmir, I would request you to be good enough to have an accurate copy of such of them made either in Nagari or Sarada by a reliable Pandit. I shall be glad to meet the expenses. Hope that you will kindly comply with my request.”
- Professor J. Ph. Vogel.

(in a letter dated August 24, 1932 by Professor J. Ph. Vogel to Pandit Nityanand) NS Mss, Nityanand Shastri Library Collection.