Varendra

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Varendra (or Barind) was a region of Bengal, now spread across eastern part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, northern parts of the Indian states of West Bengal and Bihar, south-eastern Nepal and Bangladesh.[1] It included the Pundravardhana or Pundra Kingdom region.

According to Cunningham the boundary of Varendra was the 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]

The Varendra Brahmins originated from this region.

Ancient Bengal did not have any Brahmins in its community. It is popularly believed that Brahmins were brought in to preach Hindutva, though really not the Vedic Hinduism as it is commonly believed, but more of the Pouranik Hinduism type, which evolved after Buddhism flourished. This Pouranik Hinduism is what we know as Brahmanism . Varendra (Barendra) Bhumi, i.e. modern-day North Bengal, had its Brahminism awakening soon after the south got its share. Shyamal Varma, a Kshatriya King brought five Brahmanas from Kanouj---- Sanaka; Bhardwaja; Savarna; Sandilya; Vasistha. The Bhatariya, Maitreya, Satar, Baghshree and Laheria villages soon gave birth to the Brahmin clans of Bhaduri, Maitra/Moitra, Sanyal, Bagchi and Lahiri. These came to be known as the Varendra (Barendra) Brahmins .

See also

  • Bengali Brahmin

References

  1. ↑ History of Ancient Bengal, Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, 1971
  2. ↑ http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/V_0019.htm Varendra
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