Etymology : Karnataka

The relevance of name of the state of Karnataka comes from two words karu and nadu meaning elevated land. During British Raj, the words Carnatic and Karnatak were used to describe this part of the region in general.

Yet another etymological derivative of the name comes from lear and black – a reference to the black cotton soil of the region. Historically, the names Karnatak or Carnatic have been misapplied to refer to the regions below the Western Ghats (Coorg and Kerala) as well as regions in present day Andhra Pradesh (Telangana). After independence, the Mysore state was given a separate status of a state and was renamed as Karnataka in 1973 on the basis of Language.

Again the word Karnata has been found in the Sabha Parva and the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. In Bhagavata (a Hindu scripture) also Karnata is mentioned while describing the life of Rishabhadeva. Lord Rishabhadeva ended his avatara in the Kutakachala hill in Karnata province. This hill today stands near Kollur in the Western Ghats.