Aryavarta
Summary
The article analyses the historical concept of Aryavarta—the ‘Aryan land’—and its shifting boundaries. Drawing on Vedic texts, inscriptions and lexicographical works, the author explains that Aryavarta originally referred to the territory between the Himalayas and the Vindhyas but expanded eastwards as Aryan influence spread. The Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta distinguishes between Aryavarta princes, whom he overthrew, and frontier chiefs or Pratyantas, who submitted, revealing a conceptual boundary between civilised and border territories. Epigraphic evidence demonstrates that Bengal was brahmanised by the 4th century, and the eastern limit of Aryavarta reached the old Brahmaputra; lands beyond were labeled Mleccha country inhabited by Kiratas. The author emphasises the fluidity of the term Aryavarta and shows how dynastic and cultural expansion redefined the region. By contrasting Aryavarta with Pratyanta, the article sheds light on early Indian political geography and the ideological division between Aryan and frontier peoples. It also notes that later lexicons preserved this distinction, underscoring its long‑term influence on perceptions of civilisation and ethnicity.
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Conclusion
Through epigraphic and literary sources, the article traces Aryavarta’s expansion from the heartland to eastern Bengal, differentiating it from Pratyanta border regions. It argues that Aryavarta’s boundaries were flexible and shaped by political and cultural shifts, revealing how early Indians conceptualised civilisation versus frontier.