Ben: বর্ধমান bardhamāna
‘(City of) Vardhaman’ [Burdwan, Vardhaman] City/District, West Bengal
Burdwan is the British corruption of Bardhaman [Skt: Vardhamana].
The origin possibly dates back to Mahavira or Vardhaman, the 6thC BC Jain Tirthankar who was a contemporary of the Buddha. The Jain religion has 21 Thirthankars: enlightened teachers or saints who have achieved liberation from moksha, the endless cycle of birth and death]. He is said to have spent a monsoon here, when it was called Astikagrama; consequently the town was named after him (then or possibly much later).
Alternatively, it may simply be a ‘prosperous city’ [from Skt: vardha, ‘(giving or increasing) prosperity’].
Bardhaman is the HQ of Purba Bardhaman district.
The Bardhaman Rajas were once all-powerful landlords and patrons of the arts in the region building temples at Kalna and Nabadwip.
For related place names see Indian Place names and West Bengal place names.
Curzon Gate, Bardhaman Rangan Datta Wiki