Pundravardhana or Pundra kingdom (), was an ancient kingdom of Iron Age India located in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent with a territory that included parts of present-day Rajshahi and parts of Rangpur Division of Bangladesh as well as the West Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India.
Geography
Mahasthangarh, the ancient capital of Pundravardhana is located 11 km (7 mi) north of
Bogra District on the
Bogra District-
Rangpur District highway, with a feeder road (running along the eastern side of the ramparts of the citadel for 1.5 km) leading to Jahajghata and site museum.
[Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 14–15.]
Mention in Mahabharata and puranic literature
According to the epic
Mahabharata (I.104.53–54) and
puranic literature,
Pundra was named after Prince Pundra, the founder of the kingdom, and the son of King Bali. Bali who had no children, requested the sage,
Dirghatamas, to bless him with sons. The sage is said to have begotten five sons through his wife, the queen Sudesna. The princes were named Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and Sumha.
Ancient period
Birthplace of Acharya Bhadrabāhu
The spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya,
Jainism Ācārya
Bhadrabahu was born in Pundravardhana to a
Brahmin family.
Execution of Ajivikas
According to 5th century legendary text
Ashokavadana, the Mauryan emperor
Ashoka issued an order to kill all the
(follower of nāstika or "heterodox" schools of Indian philosophy) in Pundravardhana after a non-Buddhist there drew a picture showing the
Gautama Buddha bowing at the feet of
Mahavira(Mahavira). Around 18,000 followers of the Ajivika sect were said to have been executed as a result of this order.
According to K. T. S. Sarao and
Benimadhab Barua, stories of persecutions of rival sects by Ashoka appear to be a clear fabrication arising out of sectarian propaganda.
Ashoka's own inscriptions
Barabar Caves record his generous donations and patronage to Ajivikas.
Discovery
Several personalities contributed to the discovery and identification of the ruins at Mahasthangarh. F. Buchanan Hamilton was the first European to locate and visit Mahasthangarh in 1808, C. J. O'Donnell, E. V. Westmacott, and Baveridge followed. Alexander Cunningham was the first to identify the place as the capital of Pundravardhana. He visited the site in 1889.
[Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 16–19]
