How did Maharashtra get its name?

The name Maharashtra, which denotes the western upland of the Deccan plateau, first appeared in a 7th-century inscription and in the accounts of the Chinese traveler Xuanzang.1

One prominent interpretation suggests the name derives from the word maharathi, meaning "great chariot driver." This term refers to a skillful northern fighting force that migrated southward into the region. The language of this group intermingled with that of earlier Naga settlers to form Maharastri, which eventually developed into Marathi by the 8th century.1

While the region has been known by this name for centuries, the modern state of Maharashtra was formally created on May 1, 1960, following the linguistic reorganization of the former Bombay state, which separated the Marathi-speaking south from the Gujarati-speaking north.1