Page 2 - NOTES 1

5. Kaccha: Today's Kutch

6. Kerala: More or less today's Kerala

Origins of India's Name:

1. Sapta Sindhava:

• "Land of the seven rivers"

• Refers to the northwest region of the Subcontinent

• Derived from "Sindhu" (Indus River)

• Mentioned in the Ṛig Veda

2. Bharatavarṣha:

• Means "the country of the Bharatas"(‘Bharata’ is a name that first
appears in the Ṛig Veda, where it refers to one of the main Vedic
groups of people.)

• Refers to the entire Indian Subcontinent

• Mentioned in the Mahabharata

3. Jambudvipa:

• Means "the island of the jamun fruit"

• Refers to the Indian Subcontinent

• Used in the Mahabharata and by Emperor Ashoka (around 250BCE)

4. Bharata:

• Became the widely used name for the Subcontinent

• Defined in the Viṣhṇu Puraṇa as the land north of the ocean and south
of the Himalayas

• Variations: "Bharat" (North India), "Bharatam" (South India)

5. Ancient Tamil Literature:
• Describes the geography of India similarly

• Mentions the land from Cape Kumari in the south to the Himalayas in the north

6. Evolution of India's Name:
• Different names used in ancient texts

• "Bharata" remains in use even today