anga

Anga is a term with multiple meanings, most prominently an ancient Indian kingdom and its people described in early Indian literature. In historical and literary sources, Anga is listed as one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, powerful realms that existed in northern and eastern India during the early centuries BCE.

Geography and political role: The Anga polity occupied territory in the eastern Indian subcontinent, roughly corresponding to parts of present-day southern Bihar and western Bengal. The capital is named differently across sources; some traditions identify Champa as the capital, while others do not specify a single city. Anga interacted with neighboring states such as Magadha and other regional powers, and its rulers and people are referenced in various legends within epic and Puranic literature.

Etymology and usage: In Sanskrit, anga means limb or body part. The term appears in numerous Vedic and classical texts in both literal and metaphorical senses, and it also functions as an ethnonym or toponym in later literature referring to the Anga region and its inhabitants.

Modern usage: The name Anga persists as a given name or surname in parts of South Asia and among diaspora communities. It is not commonly used as a current geographic designation today, but the historical Anga region remains a subject of study in ancient Indian history and literature.