An Overview of the Origin of Names of all 29 Indian States

As India is a diverse country, the names of its states are written in a variety of languages, with the vast majority of them being written in the native language of the state in question. Aside from that, some of the states’ names are derived from Sanskrit, which was traditionally India’s predominant language. Other influences on the names include local history, accent, rulers, and other aspects of the culture. The origins of India’s 29 states are discussed in detail here.

Jammu and Kashmir

The term “Kashmir” comes from a magnificent region in India called the Valley of Rishi Kashyaya. And in Sanskrit, “Ka” signifies water, and “shimeera” means to desiccate. Jammu term is formed from the identity of its emperor Raja JambuLochan.

Himachal Pradesh

Its title has Sanskrit roots, i.e., Hima means ‘snow,’ and achal means ‘mountain,’ so as a whole, it indicates the Home of Snowy Mountains.

Punjab

The term “Punj” means five and “ab” means water, respectively, resulting in the phrase “Land of Five Rivers.

Uttarakhand

Uttaranchal state was created in 2000 when the state of Uttar Pradesh was divided. Uttaranchal means ‘Northern Mountains,’ as Uttar means north and anchal means mountain. Uttarakhand, which means ‘Northland,’ was adopted as its new name.

Haryana

Haryana includes “Hari,” which means Vishnu or Lord Krishna’s avatar, and “ana,” which means to come. 

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar is the Hindi word for north, while Pradesh is the Hindi word for the province. Therefore, it is called “Northern Province.”

Rajasthan

It comes from the Sanskrit term ‘Raja,’ which means king in English. And Rajputana, which means ‘Land of Rajputs’, was the initial name.

Bihar

‘Vihara,’ a Pali term meaning “abode” and has a Sanskrit origin, is the source of the name “Bihar.” Abode or Vihara of Buddhist monks was its former name.

West Bengal

A Sanskrit term known as ‘Vanga’ is the root of the name. In 1947, a division occurred, with West Bengal becoming a state in India and East Bengal becoming Bangladesh.

Jharkhand

In Sanskrit, the term Jhar denotes forest, while Khand is the word meaning land. As a result, it is referred to as the “Land of Forest” or “Vananchal.”

Sikkim

Sikkim, according to some historians, is derived from the Limbu or origin, where “Su” means new and “Khyim” refers to place; therefore, creating it new place or land.

Arunachal Pradesh

Among 29 state names, Arunachal is another that comes from the Sanskrit words “Aruna” and “Chala,” which means “sun rising.” However, a few people interpret it as “Dawn-lit Mountains.”

Assam

The name Assam comes from the Assamese king AHOMS. And Ahom is likewise derived from the Indo Aryan term Asama, meaning ‘uneven.’

Odisha

It originated from the Sanskrit term ‘Odra Vishaya’ as well as ‘Odra Desa.’ It references the Odra people, who lived in the middle section of the area.

Karnataka

The state meaning is formed from those words Karu, which implies “lofty,” as well as Naad, which means “land,” which alludes to the Deccan Plateau.

Goa

Goa is derived from the Sanskrit word GO, which means cow. Agriculture was an important source of income for the early inhabitants. Therefore the name was given.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is known as the homeland of the Tamils. Also, the Tamilian term for homeland or country is “Nadu,” which means sweet nectar.

Mizoram

Mizoram is formed from the two terms Mi meaning people, and zo, meaning highlander.

Chhattisgarh

The state of Chhattisgarh is named for its 36 forts. Chhattis is a Hindi term that means thirty-six.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya denotes central, while Pradesh denotes a province. As a result, Madhya Pradesh is the Hindi name for the Central Province. 

Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s origin may be traced back to several different sources, where Maha means great and Rashtra means country. It is translated as “Great Nation.” 

Telangana

Trilinga means the country of the three lingas – is the source of the name Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh

The term Andhra, which means south in Sanskrit, is the name’s root. Tribes in this region are referred to as “Andhras.” 

Gujarat

At first, it was called GurharRashtra, then Gujar-rartra, and eventually Gujarat. During the 8th century, the Gurjaras, the region’s rulers, gave their name to the state.

Kerala

A popular theory among historians is that Kerala’s name derives from the word “KERA,” which means coconut tree, referring to the abundance of coconut trees in the area. 

Meghalaya

It derives its state meaning from the Sanskrit terms “Megha” (cloud) and “Alaya” (abode), which together indicate “the land of clouds.”

Manipur

Among 29 state names, Manipur is a Sanskrit term, which means the land of jewels.

Nagaland

The Burmese word ‘Naka,’ i.e., Naga, which implies persons with pierced ears or noses, is the term’s origin. It is sometimes referred to as the Land of the Nagas.

Tripura

In Kokborok, the term is derived from TUI denotes water, and PRA denotes near.

Conclusion

As a result, practically all state names are derived from India’s extensive literary and mythological traditions. However, although names derived from other religious or regional families and monarchs have been approved, the country’s unique and attractive culture is further strengthened by its openness to names derived from other religious or regional families and monarchs. On the one hand, several names are formed from geographical elements, but they also elaborate and need a deeper, more fascinating interpretation.