yes British leela to wipe out sanskrit KR On Sat, 14 Mar 2026 at 09:54, Madras Sivaraman <[email protected]> wrote:
> Excellent interpretations. Sadly none of them existed then with their > modern names. > > On Fri, 13 Mar 2026 at 3:26 PM, Rajaram Krishnamurthy < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> List of Indian state and union territory name etymologies >> >> *list of the origins of the names of **states and union territories* >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_union_territories_of_India> >> * of **India* <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India>. >> >> *States* >> >> *State name (# on map)* >> >> *Name in state's official language* >> >> *Meaning* >> >> *Notes* >> >> Andhra Pradesh <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh> (1) >> >> ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ >> >> (Telugu <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_language>) >> >> State of Andhras <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_people> >> >> "Āndhra" is the name of a dynasty mentioned in ancient Sanskrit >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit> literature, later used as a >> synonym for Telugu people <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_people>. >> Ancient sources that mention the Andhra kingdom include the edicts of >> Asoka <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edicts_of_Asoka> and Megasthenes's >> Indica <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indica_(Megasthenes)> (c. 300 BCE). >> [1] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-1> >> The >> earliest extant text to mention the word Andhra is Aitareya Brahmana >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aitareya_Brahmana> dated between the 8th >> and 6th centuries BCE.[2] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-2> >> According >> to the text (7.18), when Vishwamitra >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishwamitra>'s elder sons refused to >> accept his adoption of Shunahshepa >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunahshepa>, he cursed their descendants >> to be exiled from Aryavarta <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryavarta>; >> the Andhras were one of these descendant groups.[3] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-3> >> [4] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-4> >> >> Arunachal Pradesh <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachal_Pradesh> (2) >> >> Arunachal Pradesh (English >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language>) >> >> Land of the dawn-lit mountains >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Himalaya> >> >> In Sanskrit, *aruṇa* means "dawn-lit" and *achala* "mountains". The >> state is located in the easternmost part of India and gets first sunrise in >> the country.[5] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-5> >> >> Assam <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam> (3) >> >> অসম (Assamese <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_language>) >> >> "Uneven" or from "Ahom" >> >> Most scholars believe that *Assam* is derived from the Ahoms >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahom_people>, who ruled Assam for six >> centuries. The word Ahom itself may be derived from Shan >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shan_language> (*śyām* in Assamese >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_language>) or from the Sanskrit >> word "asama" (uneven, in the sense of "unequal" or "peerless"),[6] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-SureshKant_Discovery-6> >> referring >> to its geology which is an equal mix of river valleys and hills.[7] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-7> >> See Etymology of Assam >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_Assam>. >> >> Bihar <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihar> (4) >> >> बिहार (Hindi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi>) >> >> Monastery >> >> From Sanskrit *vihāra* ("Buddhist monastery"). Foreign invaders often >> used abandoned viharas <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viharas> as >> military cantonments; the word Bihar may have come from a large number of >> *viharas* thus used in the area. Pronunciation the name with 'B' instead >> of 'V' is an East Indian <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India> >> tradition. >> >> Chhattisgarh <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhattisgarh> (5) >> >> छत्तीसगढ़ (Hindi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi>) >> >> Land of Chedis <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chedi_Kingdom> >> >> *Chhattisgarh* translates to "thirty-six forts" in Hindi >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi>. There are several theories about >> what the term "thirty-six forts" refers to; see Chhattisgarh#Etymology >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhattisgarh#Etymology>. According to the >> various theories, the term may refer to the 36 pillars of a temple, 36 >> former feudal territories, or 36 houses. Another theory says that the term >> is actually a corruption of the word "chedisgarh" that refers to the Chedi >> Kingdom <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chedi_Kingdom>. >> >> Goa <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa> (6) >> >> गोंय (Konkani <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkani_language>) >> >> *Uncertain*, probably related to "cow" >> >> The name Goa came to European languages via Portuguese >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_language>, but its precise >> origin is unclear. A number of theories about its origin are centered >> around the Sanskrit word *go* (cow).[8] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-Teotonio_Ages-8> >> For >> example, the legend of Krishna <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna> names >> a mountain where he saved the cow; the mountain was named "gomāntaka", >> which later became Goa. Also, a port city named Gopākapattanam till the >> 14th century which in Konkani was called Goākaottana and thereby, from it >> Goa might have derived. For other theories, see Goa#Etymology >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa#Etymology>. >> >> Gujarat <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat> (7) >> >> ગુજરાત (Gujarati <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarati_language>) >> >> Land of Gurjars <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurjar> >> >> The Gurjars <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurjar>, who ruled the area >> around the 8th century.[9] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-9> >> [10] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-10> >> >> Haryana <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haryana> (8) >> >> हरियाणा (Hindi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi>) >> >> Abode of God or Green Forest >> >> One theory is that the name derives from the Sanskrit >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit> words *hari* (a name of Vishnu >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu>) and *āyana* (home), meaning "the >> Abode of God".[11] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-11> >> Another >> theory traces the name to the words *harita *(green) and *araṇya* >> (forest).[12] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-Bijender_Tourism-12> >> >> Himachal Pradesh <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh> (9) >> >> हिमाचल प्रदेश (Hindi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi>) >> >> Land of the snow-clad mountains >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Himalaya> >> >> In Sanskrit, *hima* means "snow" and *achala* means "mountain". >> >> Jharkhand <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jharkhand> (10) >> >> झारखण्ड (Hindi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi>) >> >> Forest Land >> >> *jhara* means "dense forest" and *khaṇḍa* means "land" in Sanskrit. >> >> Karnataka <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnataka> (11) >> >> ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ (Kannada <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannada>) >> >> Lofty Land or Land of Kannadigas >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannadigas> >> >> From Kannada <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannada>, *karu* (great/lofty) >> + *nāḍu* (land/country) = *karunāḍu*, which means "lofty land", >> referring to the Deccan Plateau >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Plateau>. *karṇāṭaka* is the >> Sanskritised adjectival form of *karunāḍu*, and means "of karunāḍu". In >> 1947, this state was formed from the princely state >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princely_state> of Mysore. In 1956, the >> Kannada-speaking regions of neighboring states were added to Mysore state. >> The name was changed to Karnataka in 1973. See Etymology of Karnataka >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_Karnataka> for more details. >> >> Kerala <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala> (12) >> >> കേരളം (Malayalam <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam>) >> >> Land added on or Land of Cheras <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheras> or >> Land of coconut trees >> >> There are three main theories about the derivation of "kērala". (1) >> According to Hindu mythology, parts of Kerala were created by Lord >> Parashurama <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parashurama>, who reclaimed >> the land from the sea. Hence the name is derived from Malayalam >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam> words, *cērnna* ("added") and >> *ālam* ("land"), hence the Sanskrit *keralam*, "the land added on". (2) >> The Chera Kingdom <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chera_Kingdom>, which >> ruled most of Kerala from the 1st to the 5th centuries AD, gave its name to >> the region; *chēra ālam* later became Keralam. This is often disputed in >> academic circles because the word Kerala existed even before the rule of >> Cheras. One of Ashoka's inscriptions >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edicts_of_Ashoka> describes "Keralaputra" >> as a land on the Mauryan border >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurya_Empire>. (3) From the word 'Kere' >> which means coconut. Kerala is a land (Alam) with extreme abundance of >> coconut trees and hence the name Kerela/Kerala. >> >> Madhya Pradesh <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh> (13) >> >> मध्य प्रदेश (Hindi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi>) >> >> Central Lands >> >> Prior to independence, the majority of this area was administered by the >> British as the Central Provinces and the Central Indian States >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Provinces>. At independence, >> several of these districts were joined together as the Central Provinces >> and Berar <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Provinces_and_Berar>*.* In >> 1950, these two regions were merged with Malwa >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malwa> and Chhattisgarh and the term >> "Central Provinces" was translated to Hindi as Madhya Pradesh. >> >> Maharashtra <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra> (14) >> >> महाराष्ट्र (Marathi <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathi_language>) >> >> *Uncertain*, possibly "mahā" (Great) + Sanskritized form of "Ratta >> dynasty <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratta_dynasty>" >> >> The most widely accepted theory among scholars is that the words Maratha >> and Maharashtra ultimately derive from a compound of *mahā* (Sanskrit >> for "great") and *rāṣṭrika*.[13] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-Gazetteer1967-13> >> The >> word *rāṣṭrika* is a Sanskritized form of Ratta >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratta_dynasty>, the name of a tribe or >> dynasty of petty chiefs ruling in the Deccan >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Plateau> region.[14] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-KBala1965-14> >> Yet >> another theory is that the term is derived from *mahā* ("great") and >> *rathī* or *ratha* <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratha> ("charioteer"). >> [14] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-KBala1965-14> >> Another >> theory states that the term derives from the words *mahā* ("great") and >> *rāṣṭra* ("nation"). However, this theory has not found acceptance among >> modern scholars who believe it to be the Sanskritized interpretation of >> later writers.[13] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-Gazetteer1967-13> >> >> Manipur <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipur> (15) >> >> ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔ (Meitei <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meitei_language>) >> >> Jewelled Land >> >> From Sanskrit, *maṇi* ("jewel") + *pura* ("city"). It seems that naming >> the said name in account of the past prosperity of land.[15] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-15> >> >> Meghalaya <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghalaya> (16) >> >> Meghalaya (English <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language>) >> >> Abode of the clouds >> >> From Sanskrit, *megha* ("cloud") and *ālaya* ("abode"). The state of >> Meghalaya has reputation of having highest rainfall as compared to other >> states of country. The wettest place in the world Mawsynram >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawsynram>, is located in Meghalaya; said >> feature of the land is reflected in its name.[16] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-16> >> >> Mizoram <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizoram> (17) >> >> Mizoram (Mizo <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizo_language>) >> >> Land of the Highlanders <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizo_people> >> >> *Mi* means "people", *zo* means "hill" and *ram* means "country". The >> states of Mizoram, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu and Punjab are exceptions where >> Sanskrit words are not used in the state name. Mizoram was named after the >> Mizo <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizo_language> tribal dialect and >> refers to their land.[17] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-17> >> >> Nagaland <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagaland> (18) >> >> Nagaland (English <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language>) >> >> Land of Nagas <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_people> >> >> Naga <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_people> is an exonym used to >> describe several tribes in the region. The origin of the word "naga" is >> uncertain, but one theory states that it originated from the Burmese >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_language> word *naka*, meaning >> people with earrings or pierced noses.[18] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-Inato_cultural-18> >> The >> British explorers which came into contact with Myanmar >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar> in 1795 and with Nagas since >> 1832, heard about Na-Ka group and anglicised it as Naga, as found in >> British anthropological and official records. Another theory points to the >> usage by people of Assam where Naga meaning 'naked', is used for 'primitive >> man living in natural surroundings in uncorrupted form'.[19] >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_and_union_territory_name_etymologies#cite_note-19> >> >> Odisha <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odisha> (19) >> >> ଓଡ଼ିଶା (Odia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odia_language>) >> >> Land of Odias <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odia_people> >> > -- > On Facebook, please join https://www.facebook.com/groups/keralaiyerstrust > > We are now on Telegram Mobile App also, please join > > Pattars/Kerala Iyers Discussions: https://t.me/PattarsGroup > > Kerala Iyers Trust Decisions only posts : https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrust > > Kerala Iyers Trust Group for Discussions: > https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrustGroup > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "KeralaIyers" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/CADLnUxiqO6c8ee6DTNyBst-s%2Bq5cGCu-n7uNckDt%3DOxhS0pmfQ%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/CADLnUxiqO6c8ee6DTNyBst-s%2Bq5cGCu-n7uNckDt%3DOxhS0pmfQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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