Origins Of The Names Of India

This land has been known by different places, across times and across places.

- D.K.Hari & D.K.Hema Hari

What are the origins of these different names?

Let us first look at Bharat, which has been a name of much antiquity.

Bharat

Bharat is the original name of this land and civilization. Our constitution also refers to this nation as India that is Bharat.

Bharat - the land of people who relish knowledge

Bha means light, which represents knowledge and Rat, Rati, means to relish. Bharat is the land of people who relish knowledge. Bharat is a cradle of humanity and knowledge of all kinds flourished holistically here from time immemorial. As the civilization spread and evolved, the people living here gave their land the name Bharat.

There is also another meaning that can be derived from this name.

Bharat - the chariot of Sun

India lies in the sub-tropical and tropical region, and receives much sunshine, through the year. Bha stands for light. Rath refers to a chariot. Thus Bharath has thus been liked to a chariot of Sun.

Bharat is a name that stands for the name, fame and wealth of this land which had come about by relishing Knowledge and relishing the Sun.

Bharat is a name that was coined by the forefathers of this civilization, to keep reminding the forthcoming generations to come, of the bounties endowed upon them by Nature, in the form of a knowledge seeking temperament and abundant sunlight as well as rains and how they will earn name, fame and riches if they learn to relish and harness them all well, with respect.

Bharata - The illustrious King of this land

In the Purana, this country is known as Bharata Varsha. Another theory states that this land got its name Bharat, from Bharata, the son of Rishabha. In the Bhagavata Purana, Rishabha is listed as the 8th Avatar of Lord Vishnu, among His 24