India derived its name from Indus River and the Aryan worshippers referred Indus River as Sindhu. The invaders of Persia converted it into Hindu. Therefore, the name ‘Hindustan’ combines with Sindhu and Hindu. We all know India is a multilingual country with lots of varieties and changes not only in terms of area and population but also culturally or Traditionally, Modernity, Religions and Beliefs etc. That is why we call it as Unity in diversity. Billions of people live together in India in 29 states where Language, History, Rulers etc. of particular regions has also contributed to the names.
But have you ever thought how 29 States of India got their Names.
1. Jammu and Kashmir
It is a beautiful valley known as Valley of Rishi Kashyaya from which Kashmir word is originated. And in Sanskrit “Ka” means water and “shimeera” means to desiccate. Jammu word is originated from the name of its ruler Raja Jambu Lochan.
2. Himachal Pradesh
Its name has a Sanskrit origin i.e. Hima means ‘snow’ and achal means ‘mountain’ which as a whole means The Home of Snowy Mountains.
3. Punjab
The word “Punj” means five and “ab” means water i.e Land of Five Rivers which is an Indo-Iranian word.
4. Uttarakhand
Uttaranchal state is separated from Uttar Pradesh in 2000 which means ‘Northern Mountains’ i.e. Uttar means north and anchal is mountain. Later its name was changed to Uttarakhand which means ‘Northland’.
5. Haryana
Haryana splits in two words i.e. “Hari” means Vishnu or an incarnation of Lord Krishna and “ana” means to come. It is believed that during Mahabharata reign Lord Krishna came to this place and so, got the name Haryana.
6. Uttar Pradesh
Uttar means North and Pradesh means Province. So, we can say it as ‘Northern Province’.
7. Rajasthan
It is derived from Sanskrit word ‘Raja’ which means King. And earlier it was known as Rajputana means ‘Land of Rajputs’.
8. Bihar
It is derived from a Pali word ‘Vihara’ which means ‘abode’ and has a Sanskrit origin and with time it changed to Bihar. Earlier, it was known as Abode or Vihara of Buddhist monks.
9. West Bengal
It is derived from a Sanskrit word ‘Vanga’. And different versions came after it like in Persia it is called by Bangalah, in Hindi as Bangal and in Bengali as Bangla. Word West added to it after the Partition of Bengal in 1905 and in 1947 again partition took place in which West Bengal became a state in India and East Bengal as a separate nation as Bangladesh.
10. Jharkhand
It is derived from a Sanskrit word Jhar which means forest and Khand means land. So, in total it is said as Land of Forest and also known as ‘Vananchal’.
11. Odisha
It is derived from Sanskrit word ‘Odra Vishaya’ or ‘Odra Desa’ and it refers to the Odra people living in Central India.
12. Chhattisgarh
Earlier it was known by the name of Dakshin Kosala but have no concrete evidences regarding its name. Also, it has 36 forts and in Hindi 36 is chattis. So, named as Chattisgarh.
13. Madhya Pradesh
Madhya means Central and Pradesh means Province. So, Hindi version of Central Province is Madhya Pradesh. Before Independence most of the parts of the state as Central Provinces is administered by the Britishers. In 1950 the Central Province and Berar were combined with Makrai and Chattisgarh which is now known as ‘Central Province’.
14. Gujarat
It is originated from Gujara and this region was ruled by them in 700 and 800 and so known as land of Gujjars.