Pundras are the inhabitants of the western provinces of Bengal. Pundras are the inhabitants of the districts of Dinajpur, Rangpur, Birbhum, Burdwan, Midnapur and the jungle Mehats.

Pundras are the local inhabitants of West Bengal who mainly hail from Pundras. It was an eastern kingdom extended from West Bengal, Bangladesh and Purnia (Bihar). A Pundra king challenged Lord Krishna by imitating his attributes. He called himself Paundraka Vasudeva. Later Lord Krishna later killed him in a battle. The founders of five eastern kingdoms, which included Angas, Vangas, Kalingas, Pundras and Suhmas shared a common ancestry.

The Pundra dynasty ruled the territories of West Bengal and Bangladesh in the ancient times. The history of the Pundras shrouded in age-old history and mythology. Pundra, also recognized as Paundra or Paundraya is one of the renowned empires in eastern India. Pundra dynasty is claimed to be the origin of several renowned warrior tribes like the Pundir Rajputs of Telangana.

According to ancient historical records, the earlier royal family of the Vanga, Anga, Pundra, Kalinga and Suhma dynasty shared a common lineage. Pundras also resided in this state. Supposedly, strong fraternal ties linked the five rulers of these kingdoms, being the adopted sons of emperor Vali. Pundra, referred to as a realm of Bharata Varsha or India belonged to the warrior Kshatriya tribes. The Pundra dynasty did not conform to the Vedic culture of that period.

The Pundra dynasty and its rulers find adequate mention in the chronicles of the epic Mahabharata. The kingdom suffered defeat against Karna, Bhima and Arjuna. There are mythological references to Bhima`s conch that supposedly originated from Pundra and the Pundra rulers being one of the elite few to be called for the Pandava`s benefit by King Drupada prior to the battle of Kurukshetra.

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