Narayani

Narayani is a name used for multiple subjects in South Asia, most commonly associated with a river and with historical administrative and cultural meanings. In geography, Narayani refers to a major river that flows through parts of southern Nepal and northern India. The river runs through the Terai plains, where it supports irrigation, settlements, and regional biodiversity, before becoming part of the larger river networks in the Ganges basin. The Narayani name is also encountered in local toponymy and in discussions of the region’s hydrology and resource management.

Historically, Narayani was the name of one of Nepal’s administrative zones. The Narayani Zone was established under the country’s old provincial structure and was named after the Narayani River. It covered several districts in central Nepal and existed until Nepal reorganized its administrative divisions in the mid-2010s, after which the zones were replaced by a provincial system.

In addition to geographic uses, Narayani appears in cultural and religious contexts. It is used as a feminine given name in South Asia and as an epithet in Hindu tradition for goddesses associated with Narayana, meaning roughly “belonging to Narayana” or “the beloved of Narayana.” The term thus intersects geography, history, and spirituality within the region.