Gauḍa (region)

Territory located in Bengal in ancient and medieval time

This article is about the territory in ancient and medieval Bengal. For the historical town with same name, see Gauḍa (city). For other uses, see Gauda.

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History of Bengal

Ancient Kingdoms

* Pundravardhana
* Vanga
* Suhma
* Rarha
* Samatata
* Anga
* Harikela
* Pragjyotisha

Classical Dynasties

* Gangaridai
* Bhulua
* Nandas
* Mayuras
* Shungas
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* Gaudiyas
* Kamarupa
* Jaintia
* Gour
* Laur
* Mallabhum
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* Palas
* Sena
* Chandras
* Devas
* Pratapgarh
* Taraf

Islamic Bengal

* Delhi Sultanate
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* City states:
* Sonargaon
* Lakhnauti
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* Bengal Sultanate:
* Ilyas Shahi dynasty
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* Karrani dynasty
* Sur Empire
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* Mughal Empire:
* Bengal Subah
* Burdwan Raj
* Rajshahi Raj
* Nadia Raj
* Bettiah Raj
* Nawabs of Bengal
* Zamindars
* Maratha expeditions in Bengal

Colonial Bengal

* Portuguese Chittagong
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* British Bengal
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Post-partition era

* East Bengal/East Pakistan(1947–1971)
* East Bengali refugees
* History of East Pakistan
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Modern period

* West Bengal 1947–present
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Related

* Architecture of Bengal
* History of Bengali literature
* Bangamata
* History of the taka
* Muslin trade in Bengal
* List of governors of Bengal Presidency
* Prime Minister of Bengal
* Maritime history of Bengal

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Gauda (Sanskrit: गौड Gauḍa; Bengali: গৌড় Gauṛ), was a territory located in Bengal in ancient and medieval times,[1] as part of the Gauda Kingdom.

## Location and extent

[edit]

The Arthashastra of Chanakya (around 350–283 BC) refers to it along with Vanga, Pundra. This geographical idea continues with some of the ancient texts.[1] Gauda and Vanga are sometimes used side by side.[2]

Shashanka, the first important king of ancient Bengal who is believed to have ruled between 590 AD to 625 AD, had his capital at Karnasubarna, 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) south-west of Baharampur, headquarters of Murshidabad district.[2] The Chinese monk, Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) travelled from the country of Karnasubarna to a region in Orissa ruled by Shashanka.[1] There is mention of Pundravardhana being part of Gauda in certain ancient records.[3]

Evidence seems to be discrepant regarding links of Gauda with the Rarh region. While Krishna Mishra (eleventh or twelfth century AD), in his Prabodha-chandrodaya, mentions that Gauda rashtra includes Rarh (or Rarhpuri) and Bhurishreshthika, identified with Bhurshut, in Hooghly and Howrah districts, but the Managoli inscription of the Yadava king Jaitugi I distinguishes Lala (Rarh) from Gaula (Gauda).[2]

The Pala emperors were referred to as Vangapati (Lord of Vanga) and Gaudesvara (Lord of Gauda). Sena kings also called themselves Gaudesvara. From then Gauda and Vanga seem to be interchangeable names for the whole of Bengal.[2]

According to Jain writers of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Gauda included Lakshmanavati in present-day Malda district.[2]

Early 19th century lithograph of the Muslim ruins of Dakhil Darwaza at Gaur, West Bengal.

In the early Muslim period the name Gauda came to be applied to Lakhanavati in Malda district.[2] In the narrower sense Gauda is the territory between the river Padma and Bardhamana region.

## Gour, ruined city

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Gaur/Gour, as it is spelled mostly in modern times, refers to Lakhnauti the ruined city located on the India-Bangladesh border. Most of the former citadel is located in present-day the Malda district of West Bengal, India, while a smaller part is located in Chapainawabganj District of Bangladesh. This city was on the east bank of the Ganges river, 40 kilometers (25 mi) downstream from Rajmahal. However, the current course of the Ganges is far away from the ruins.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Ghosh, Suchandra. "Gauda". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
2. ^ a b c d e f Majumdar, R. C. (1971). History of Ancient Bengal. Calcutta: G. Bhardwaj & Co. pp. 6–8\. OCLC 961157849.6-8&rft.pub=G.+Bhardwaj+&+Co.&rft.date=1971&rft_id=info:oclcnum/961157849&rft.aulast=Majumdar&rft.aufirst=R.+C.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Gauḍa+(region)" class="Z3988">.
3. ^ Bandopadhyay, Rakhaldas, Bangalar Itihas, (in Bengali), first published 1928, revised edition 1971, vol I, p 101, Nababharat Publishers, 72 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kolkata.

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Malda district topics

General|

* Alkap
* Farakka Barrage
* Gombhira
* Gauda
* Jagjivanpur
* River bank erosion along the Ganges in Malda and Murshidabad districts

History|

* Gauda Kingdom
* Hussain Shahi dynasty
* Ilyas Shahi dynasty
* Pala Empire
* Raja Ganesha

Subdivisions|

* Chanchal
* Malda Sadar

Municipalities|

* English Bazar
* Old Malda

Community development
blocks|

| Malda Sadar subdivision|

* Bamangola
* English Bazar
* Gazole
* Habibpur
* Kaliachak I
* Kaliachak II
* Kaliachak III
* Manikchak
* Old Malda

|

Chanchal subdivision|

* Chanchal I
* Chanchal II
* Harishchandrapur I
* Harishchandrapur II
* Ratua I
* Ratua II

Higher education|

* University of Gour Banga

Rivers|

* Ganges
* Mahananda
* Tangon

Transport|

* NH 12
* NH512
* Eastern Railway zone

Railway stations|

* Eklakhi
* Gazole
* Malda Town
* Singhabad

Lok Sabha constituencies|

* Maldaha Dakshin
* Maldaha Uttar
* Malda – now defunct

Vidhan Sabha constituencies|

* Habibpur
* Gazole
* Chanchal
* Harishchandrapur
* Malatipur
* Ratua
* Manikchak
* Maldaha
* English Bazar
* Mothabari
* Sujapur
* Baisnabnagar

Former Vidhan Sabha constituencies|

* Kaliachak
* Kharba
* Araidanga

See also|

* Cities, towns and locations in Malda district
* People from Malda district
* Villages in Malda district

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