Mallabhum

Mallabhum (Bengali: মল্লভূম) was the kingdom ruled by the Malla kings of Bishnupur primarily in the present Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Extent

Main article: History of Bankura district

The area around Bishnupur was called Mallabhum The core area would cover present day Bankura police station area (excluding Chhatna), Onda, Bishnupur, Kotulpur and Indas. In olden days the term was used for a much larger area, which probably was the furthest extent of the Bishnupur kingdom. In the north it stretched from Damin-i-koh in Santhal Parganas to Midnapore in the south. It included the eastern part of Bardhaman and included parts of Chota Nagpur in the west.^[1]

The Rajas of Bishnupur were also known as Malla kings. Malla is a Sanskrit word meaning wrestler but there could be some links with the Mal tribes of the area, who had intimate connection with the Bagdis.^[1]

From around 7th century AD till around the advent of British rule, for around a millennium, history of Bankura district is identical with the rise and fall of the Hindu Rajas of Bishnupur.^[1] The legends of Bipodtarini Devi are associated with Malla Kings of Bishnupur. ^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} O’Malley, L.S.S., ICS, Bankura, Bengal District Gazetteers, pp. 21-46, 1995 reprint, first published 1908, Government of West Bengal
2. ^ Östör, Ákos (24). Play Of The Gods: Locality, Ideology, Structure, And Time In The Festivals Of A Bengali Town. Orient Blackswan. p. 43. ISBN 8180280136. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=6ASi04hC0BQC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Bipadtarini&source=bl&ots=-jTqcxEi5m&sig=jw9MgHoLfNX0lPP6IJd8t5wixUI&hl=en&ei=HmdaTMrxItS_rAeo5PG9DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CDIQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=Bipadtarini&f=false.