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India, a country with an ancient and rich civilization, has been known by several names throughout history. The most notable old names of India are Bharat, Hindustan, and Jambudvipa. Each of these names reflects the cultural, geographical, or religious contexts of the era in which they were used.
Old Names of India:
| Old Name | Origin | Meaning | Time Period |
| Bharat | Derived from King Bharata (as mentioned in Rigveda and Mahabharata) | Land ruled by King Bharata; also means “to bear or uphold” | Ancient times, still in use |
| Hindustan | Persian influence during the medieval period | “Land of the Hindus”; referred to the region around the Indus River | Medieval period |
| Jambudvipa | Sanskrit term from ancient Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cosmology | “Continent of the Jambu tree” – a mythological continent in ancient Indian scriptures | Vedic and Puranic age |
| Aryavarta | Sanskrit word used in Dharmaśāstra texts like Manusmriti | “Land of the Aryans” – referred to the northern part of India | Early Vedic period |
| India | Derived from the River Sindhu (Indus) via Greek (Indoi) and Latin usage | “Land of the Indus” | Became popular during colonial era |
- Bharat is officially recognized in the Indian Constitution: “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.”
- Hindustan became widely used during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire to describe northern India.
- Jambudvipa is not used politically but holds religious and mythological significance in ancient Indian texts.
- The Greeks called the people east of the Indus River “Indoi,” which eventually became India.
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