Lesson 2/35 min
The ancient janapadas
In ancient times there was no single country called ‘Bangla’. The regions were known as separate janapadas, and about 16 are known by name. These are the ones exams ask about most.
Janapada, place and speciality
| Janapada | Place | Speciality |
|---|---|---|
| Pundra | Bogura, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Dinajpur region | Called the oldest janapada in both books; capital Pundranagara (Pundravardhana) = Mahasthangarh |
| Vanga | Greater Dhaka, south-east Bengal | ‘Vanga’ first appears in the Aitareya Aranyaka |
| Gauda | Chapainawabganj, Murshidabad and Malda region | Capital Karnasuvarna; king Shashanka |
| Radha (Suhma) | West bank of the Bhagirathi | Also called Suhma |
| Samatata | Cumilla and Noakhali region | A janapada of eastern Bangladesh |
| Harikela | Sylhet, Chattogram and the Chittagong Hill Tracts | A hilly janapada |
| Varendra | The high land between the Ganges and the Karatoya | Spread over parts of Rajshahi, Bogura, Rangpur and Dinajpur |
More to remember
- Mahasthangarh (Bogura) = ancient Pundranagara; one of the oldest city settlements in Bangladesh
- Karnasuvarna lies in today's Murshidabad area; Banglapedia places it near Chiruti station, around Rajbaridanga
- Tamralipta (Tamluk in Medinipur today) was a famous port of ancient Bengal
- Ancient Samatata held Buddhist centres such as Shalban Vihara (Cumilla)
Watch out: Janapada boundaries changed over time and the two books do not list exactly the same districts (for example, adding Nadia or Birbhum to Gauda). Remember the districts that keep appearing in the books' tables.
Memory trick: East: Samatata = Cumilla-Noakhali, Harikela = Sylhet-Chattogram, Vanga = Dhaka. North: Pundra and Varendra. West: Gauda and Radha.
Check yourself
Which ancient janapada covered the Sylhet and Chattogram region?
At a glance
- 1
Ancient Bengal had about 16 janapadas; both books call Pundra the oldest.
- 2
Pundranagara = Mahasthangarh (Bogura); the capital of Gauda was Karnasuvarna (Murshidabad area).
- 3
Samatata = Cumilla-Noakhali; Harikela = the Sylhet and Chattogram region.
- 4
Varendra is the high land between the Ganges and the Karatoya; Radha is also called Suhma.
- 5
The name ‘Vanga’ first appears in the Aitareya Aranyaka.