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{{Short description|Forest featured in Hindu literature}}
{{Infobox forest
| name = Dandakaranya
| native_name2 =
| native_lang2 =
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| photo_width =
| map =
| map_caption =
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| coordinates =
| county =
| region = [[Bastar division|Bastar]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Odisha]] and [[Telangana]]
| country = [[India]]
| elevation =
| area = 92,200 km<sup>2</sup>
| max_area =
| date_max_area =
| status =
| established =
| visitation =
| visitation_year =
| events =
| authority =
| website =
| ecosystem =
| classification_WWF =
| classification_EPA =
| classification_CEC =
| disturbance =
| forest_cover =
| species =
| indicator_plants =
| lesser_flora =
| fauna =
}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}

[[File:Map_Chhattisgarh_state_and_districts.png|right|thumb|300px|Dandakaranya is geographically equivalent to Bastar division which covers bottom three districts (named Kanker, Bastar and Dantewada) in this 2007 district map of [[Chhattisgarh]]; since then these 3 districts have been divided into more districts]]
'''Dandakaranya''' is a historical region in [[India]], mentioned in the [[Ramayana]]. It is identified with a territory roughly equivalent to the [[Bastar division]] in the [[Chhattisgarh]] state in the central-east part of [[India]]. It covers about {{convert|35600|sqmi|km2|-2|order=flip}} of land, which includes the [[Abujhmar]] Hills in the west and the [[Eastern Ghats]] in the east, including regions of [[Telangana]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]] and [[Odisha]] states. It spans about {{convert|200|mi|km|sigfig=1|order=flip}} from north to south and about {{convert|300|mi|km|sigfig=1|order=flip}} from east to west.<ref name=brit>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9028691/Dandakaranya |title= Dandakaranya |work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online}}</ref> Dandakaranya roughly translates from Sanskrit to "The Jungle (aranya) of Punishment (dandakas").<ref name=HN1>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindunet.org/hvk/articles/0797/0036.html |title=In the footsteps of Rama - The Pioneer |access-date=22 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507173003/http://www.hindunet.org/hvk/articles/0797/0036.html |archive-date=7 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
'''Dandakaranya''' ({{Lang-sa|दण्डकारण्य|translit=Daṇḍakāraṇya}}), also rendered '''Dandaka''' ({{lang-sa|दंडक}}, IAST: {{IAST|Daṃḍaka}}), is a historical region and the name of a forest mentioned in the ancient Indian epic ''[[Ramayana]]''. It covers about {{convert|35600|sqmi|km2|-2|order=flip}} of land, which includes the [[Abujhmar]] Hills in the west and the [[Eastern Ghats]] in the east, including regions of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Odisha]] and [[Telangana]] states. It spans about {{convert|200|mi|km|sigfig=1|order=flip}} from north to south and about {{convert|300|mi|km|sigfig=1|order=flip}} from east to west.<ref name=brit>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9028691/Dandakaranya |title= Dandakaranya |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online}}</ref>
The [[Balaghat district]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Bhandara district|Bhandara]], [[Gondia district|Gondia]] and [[Gadchiroli district|Gadchiroli]] districts of [[Maharashtra]] are part of the ancient region Dandakaranya.<ref>Lonely Planet India (Country Guide) (2019) 1256 pag {{ISBN|1787013693}},
{{ISBN|978-1787013698}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Dandakaranya'' means "the Dandaka forest" in Sanskrit, the abode of the [[rakshasa]] Dandaka.<ref name=brit/> It was the site of the [[Danda Kingdom]] in [[Hindu mythology]], a stronghold of the rakshasa tribes. It was a state of the [[Lanka Kingdom]] under the reign of [[Ravana]]. Ravana's governor [[Khara (Ramayana)|Khara]] ruled this province.
Dandaka-aranya, means the Dandak Forest, the abode of the demon Dandak.<ref name=brit/>
[[Dandaka]] ({{lang-sa|दंडक}}, [[IAST]]: {{IAST|Daṃḍaka}}) is the name of a [[forest]] mentioned in the ancient Indian text ''[[Ramayana]]''. It is also known as ''Dandakaranya'', ''aranya'' being the Sanskrit word for "forest". It was the location of the [[Danda Kingdom]], a stronghold of the [[Rakshasa]] tribes. It was state of the [[Lanka Kingdom]] under the reign of [[Ravana]]. Ravana's governor [[Khara (Ramayana)|Khara]] ruled this province.


==As a sacred land in Hinduism==
==Hinduism==


Dandakaranya is considered sacred in [[Hinduism]], as many accounts of the region describe ancient Hindu peoples and Hindu deities living together in refuge there. The Dandakaranya zone was the location of the turning point in the [[Ramayana]], a famous [[Indian epic poetry|Sanskrit epic]]. The plot for the divine objectives to uproot the [[rakshasa]] from the land was formulated here.<ref>Arya, Ravi Prakash (ed.).Ramayana of Valmiki: Sanskrit Text and English Translation. (English translation according to M. N. Dutt, introduction by Dr. Ramashraya Sharma, 4-volume set) Parimal Publications: Delhi, 1998, {{ISBN|81-7110-156-9}}</ref> According to the Ramayana, it was home to many deadly creatures and demons. Exiled persons resided here and sages had to cross it in order to reach the [[Vindhya Range|Vindhya Mountains]]. [[Rama]], his wife [[Sita]] and his brother [[Lakshmana]] spent initial years of fourteen years as exiles traveling around the region. This region has an average height of metres and lies mostly in the Indian State of Chhattisgarh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swargarohan.org/Ramayana/Aranya-Kand.htm |title=Aranya Kand |access-date=2009-01-06 |work=Tulsi Ramayana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007232929/http://www.swargarohan.org/Ramayana/Aranya-Kand.htm |archive-date=7 October 2008 }}</ref>
Dandakaranya is considered sacred in [[Hinduism]], as many accounts of the region describe ancient Hindu peoples and Hindu deities living together in refuge there. The Dandakaranya zone was the location of the turning point in the [[Ramayana]], a famous [[Indian epic poetry|Sanskrit epic]]. The plot for the divine objectives to uproot the [[rakshasa]]s from the land was formulated here.<ref>Arya, Ravi Prakash (ed.).Ramayana of Valmiki: Sanskrit Text and English Translation. (English translation according to M. N. Dutt, introduction by Dr. Ramashraya Sharma, 4-volume set) Parimal Publications: Delhi, 1998, {{ISBN|81-7110-156-9}}</ref> According to the epic, it was home to many deadly creatures and demons. It is described to have stretched from [[Narmada River|Narmada]] to the [[Godavari River|Godavari]] and [[Krishna River|Krishna]] Rivers according to the epic. [[Rama]], his wife [[Sita]], and his brother [[Lakshmana]], are described to have spent their initial years of fourteen years as exiles traveling around the region.


==See also==
==See also==
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[[Category:Places in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Places in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:History of Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Refugees in India]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian forests]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian forests]]
[[Category:Forests of Odisha]]
[[Category:Forests of Odisha]]

Revision as of 08:23, 12 April 2024

Dandakaranya
Geography
LocationBastar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana, India
Area92,200 km2

Dandakaranya (Sanskrit: दण्डकारण्य, romanizedDaṇḍakāraṇya), also rendered Dandaka (Sanskrit: दंडक, IAST: Daṃḍaka), is a historical region and the name of a forest mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. It covers about 92,200 square kilometres (35,600 sq mi) of land, which includes the Abujhmar Hills in the west and the Eastern Ghats in the east, including regions of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Telangana states. It spans about 300 kilometres (200 mi) from north to south and about 500 kilometres (300 mi) from east to west.[1]

Etymology

Dandakaranya means "the Dandaka forest" in Sanskrit, the abode of the rakshasa Dandaka.[1] It was the site of the Danda Kingdom in Hindu mythology, a stronghold of the rakshasa tribes. It was a state of the Lanka Kingdom under the reign of Ravana. Ravana's governor Khara ruled this province.

Hinduism

Dandakaranya is considered sacred in Hinduism, as many accounts of the region describe ancient Hindu peoples and Hindu deities living together in refuge there. The Dandakaranya zone was the location of the turning point in the Ramayana, a famous Sanskrit epic. The plot for the divine objectives to uproot the rakshasas from the land was formulated here.[2] According to the epic, it was home to many deadly creatures and demons. It is described to have stretched from Narmada to the Godavari and Krishna Rivers according to the epic. Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana, are described to have spent their initial years of fourteen years as exiles traveling around the region.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Dandakaranya". Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
  2. ^ Arya, Ravi Prakash (ed.).Ramayana of Valmiki: Sanskrit Text and English Translation. (English translation according to M. N. Dutt, introduction by Dr. Ramashraya Sharma, 4-volume set) Parimal Publications: Delhi, 1998, ISBN 81-7110-156-9