'Vanga' (also known as Banga) was a kingdom located in the eastern part of India, in modern
Bengal. It was a seafaring nation of ancient India. The founders of five eastern kingdoms, which included: -
Angas, Vangas,
Kalingas,
Pundras and
Suhmas shared a common ancestry.
References in Mahabharata
At (6:9) the
Angas, the
Vangas and the
Kalingas were mentioned as close kingdoms in Bharata Varsha (Ancient India). Whatever regions of sacred waters and whatever other holy palaces there were in
Vanga and
Kalinga,
Arjuna visited all of them, during his pilgrimage lasting for 12 years throughout the ancient India (Mbh 1:217).
The founders of five eastern kingdoms, which included:
Angas Vangas,
Kalingas,
Pundras and
Suhmas shared a common ancestry. They were all adopted sons of a king named Vali (Bali), born by a sage named Gautama Dirghatamas, who lived in
Magadha close to the city of Girivraja. (See also
Kalinga Kingdom.) (1:104), (2:21).
Bhima's expedition to Vanga
Having subjugated
Karna (of
Anga Kingdom) and brought him under his sway, the mighty hero then vanquished the powerful king of the mountainous regions. And the son of
Pandu then slew in a fierce encounter, by the strength of his arms, the mighty king who dwelt in Madagiri. And the
Pandava then, subjugated in battle those strong and brave heroes of fierce prowess, viz., the heroic and mighty Vasudeva, the king of
Pundra and king Mahaujah who reigned in Kausika-kachchha, and then attacked the king of 'Vanga'. And having vanquished Samudrasena and king Chandrasena and Tamralipta, and also the king of the Karvatas and the ruler of the
Suhmas, as also the kings that dwelt on the sea-shore, that bull among the
Bharatas then conquered all
Mlechchha tribes.
Bhima having thus conquered various countries, and exacting tributes from them all advanced towards
Lohity (2:29).
Other expeditions to Vanga
The
Kashmiras, the
Daradas, the
Kuntis, the Kshudrakas, the
Malavas, the
Angas , the
Vangas, the
Kalingas , the
Videhas, the Tamraliptakas, the Rakshovahas, the Vitahotras, the
Trigartas, the Martikavatas were all vanquished by
Bhargava Rama (7:68).
Karna reduced the
Angas, and the
Bangas, and the
Kalingas, and the Mandikas, and the
Magadhas. the Karkakhandas; and also included with them the Avasiras, Yodhyas, and the Ahikshatras (3:252).
The
Angas , the
Vangas, the
Kalingas , the
Magadhas, the
Kasis, the
Kosalas, the
Vatsyas, the Gargyas, the
Karushas and the
Paundras were mentioned to be vanquished by
Vasudeva Krishna (7:11).
Arjuna defeated the countries of the
Bangas, the
Pundras, and the
Kosalas (14:82) in his military campaign after
Kurukshetra War.
Tributes to Yudhisthira
The kings of
Anga and
Vanga, and
Pundra were mentioned as attending the court of
Yudhisthira at (2:4). The
Vangas and
Angas and
Paundras and
Odras and
Cholas and
Dravidas and
Andhakas were mentioned to be giving tribute to
Yudhisthira (3:51). The
Angas , the
Vangas, , the
Punras, the Sanavatyas, and the Gayas—these good and well-born
Kshatriyas distributed into regular clans and trained to the use of arms, brought tribute unto king
Yudhishthira by hundreds and thousands. And the
Vangas, the
Kalingas, the
Magadhas, the Tamraliptas, the Supundrakas, the Dauvalikas, the Sagarakas, the Patrornas, the Saisavas, and innumerable Karnapravaranas, were found waiting at the gate (2:51).
Vangas in Kurukshetra War
''Vanga army was skilled in handling
war elephants. They sided with the
Kauravas.''
Vangas sided with
Duryodhana in the
Kurukshetra War (8:17) along with the
Kalingas. They are mentioned as part of the
Kaurava army at (7:158). Many foremost of combatants skilled in elephant-fight, belonging to the Easterners, the Southerners, the
Angas, the
Vangas, the
Pundras, the
Magadhas, the Tamraliptakas, the Mekalas, the
Koshalas, the
Madras, the
Dasharnas, the Nishadas united with the
Kalingas (8:22).
Satyaki, pierced the vitals of the elephant belonging to the king of the Vangas 8:22).
''
Bhagadatta was mentioned as the ruler of the Vanga kingdom that took part in the
Kurukshetra War.''
Behind
Duryodhana proceeded the ruler of the Vangas, with ten thousand elephants, huge as hills, and each with juice trickling down (6:92). The ruler of the Vangas (
Bhagadatta) mounting upon an elephant huge as a hill, drove towards the Rakshasa,
Ghatotkacha.. On the field of battle, with the mighty elephant of great speed, Bhagadatta placed himself in the very front of
Duryodhana’s car. And with that elephant he completely shrouded the car of thy son. Beholding then the way (to Duryodhana’s car) thus covered by the intelligent king of the Vangas, the eyes of Ghatotkacha became red in anger. And he ruled that huge dart, before upraised, at that elephant. Struck with that dart hurled from the arms of Ghatotkacha, that elephant, covered with blood and in great agony, fell down and died. The mighty king of the Vangas, however, quickly jumping down from that elephant, alighted on the ground (6:93).
Rulers of Vanga
At (2:29) two rulers Samudrasena and Chadrasena were mentioned. It is not clear if they were rulers of Vanga kingdom.
Karna is mentioned as the ruler of
Anga and Vanga at (2:43). Paundraka Vasudeva, an ally of
Jarasandha and enemy of
Vasudeva Krishna is mentioned as king of Vanga,
Pundra and the Kiratas at (2:14). Bhagadatta is mentioned as the ruler of Vanga at (8:22).
Probably all these rulers had a stake in the territory of Vanga. All of them were mentioned as ruling the neighbouring kingdoms of Vanga, in other passages in Mahabharata. Bhagadatta was the ruler of
Pragjyotisha Kingdom to the north of Vanga. Paundraka Vasudeva ruled
Pundra Kingdom to the east of Vanga and Karna ruled
Anga Kingdom to the west of Vanga.
Other References
Kings of
Kalinga and Vanga were mentioned as attending the self choice ceremony of the
Panchala princess, along with Vasudeva the king of
Pundra (1:189),(2:33).
See also
★
Kingdoms of Ancient India
★
Bengal
★
West Bengal
★
Bangladesh
References
★
Mahabharata of
Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
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