Varendra
Varendra (or Barind) was a region of North Bengal, now in Bangladesh.[1] It included the Pundravardhana
Pundravardhana or Pundra Kingdom
Pundra Kingdom region currently part of Rangpur and Rajshahi Division
Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh. According to Cunningham the boundary of Varendra
Varendra was the Ganges
Ganges and the Mahananda on the west, the Karatoya on the east, the Padma on the south and the land between Koochbihar and the Terai on the north.[2]

Contents

1 History 2 Modern usage 3 See also 4 References

History[edit] Main article: Kulin Brahmins Historical evidence attests significant presence of Brahmins in Bengal during the Maurya
Maurya period. The Jain
Jain Acharya
Acharya Bhadrabahu, regarded to be the preceptor of Chandragupta Maurya, is said to have been born in Brahmin family of Pundravardhana
Pundravardhana (or Puṇḍra, the region north of the Ganges
Ganges and west of Brahmaputra in Bengal, later known as Vārendra). Such evidences suggest Puṇḍra or Vārendra and regions west of Bhagirathi (called Radha in ancient age) to be seats of Brahmins from ancient times; Rādhi and Varendra
Varendra are still chief branches of Bengali Brahmins settled in these regions. Medium to large scale migrations of Brahmins from parts of India like Kanyakubja region, Kolancha, southern India and Pushkar in Rajasthan, among other places, occurred from time to time, especially during Pala and Sena periods. According to HC Raychoudhuri the Gupta dyansty originated from the Varendri region. According to the Khalimpur copper plate inscription, the first Pala Emperor Gopala was the son of a warrior named Vapyata. The Ramacharitam attests that Varendra
Varendra (North Bengal) was the fatherland (Janakabhu) of the Palas. Traditionally, Bengali Brahmins are divided into the following categories:

Rādhi, from the Rarh region
Rarh region southwest of the Ganges Barendra, from the Varendra
Varendra or Puṇḍra region. Vārendra originally meant rain-maker magicians.

Modern usage[edit]

Varendra
Varendra Research Society Varendra
Varendra Research Museum Varendra
Varendra rebellion Varendra
Varendra University Varendra
Varendra tract

See also[edit]

North Bengal Pundravardhana

References[edit]

^ History of Ancient Bengal, Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, 1971 ^ Varen