History of Bengali Language and Literature c8.36

c8.36

The men and women in the Buddhistic age had curious names, not at all pleasing to the ears, such as অদুনা, পদুনা, নেঙ্গা, খেতুরি, ময়নামতী, হিজু, দুহি, দুই, রুই, কুই, আই, লহনা, খুল্লনা, সায় নেড়া, সমাই, মালদ্যা, লোহাটা, &c. But with the advent of the Sanskrit age, choice classical names began to be preferred. In Vijay Gupta's Padmāpurāṇa along with names which remind us of the Buddhistic period, Sanskrit names are found in large numbers; such for instance, as চন্দ্রপ্রভা lustre of the moon, অনুপমা the peerless, চন্দ্ররেখা moon-beam, মালতি jasmine, শশী the moon, সুবর্ণ রেখা gold-lining, রঙ্গিনী the playful, সরলা the sincere one, রূপমঞ্জরী beautiful bud, মদনমঞ্জরী flower-sceptre of cupid, জয়-মালা garland of victory, বিমলা the pure. By far the greater number of names are found to follow those of the Hindu gods and goddesses.