( The N in this name is pronounced like 'n'in 'gun'. When an S is added at the end, it indicates plural number, to mean the people of the land.)
ANGA is the name of the one of the provinces of ancient India. It corresponds to the present Assam and thereabout. some associate Assam with Kaamaroopa and identify the area between the rivers Ganga and Sarayu as Anga province.
Many countries derived their names from some ruler of the same name. As is described in Bhaaratham and Bhaagavatham, the countries Anga, Vanga, Kalinga,Pundra, Suhma, Aandhra and Chedi got their names after their first or prominent rulers of the same name. Later on, the ruler and the people of the country were usually identified with that country name.
As is the custom in Samskritham language, country names are given by the people that inhabited it and the name is always in plural.
The king of a country derives his name by the country he ruled. E.g. Paanchaala is the ruler of the country Panchaalam,
Chaidya is the ruler of the country Chedi, Maagadha was the ruler of the country Magadha etc. The word Angas refers to the land of Anga as well as its people too.
Anga is mentioned in Aadi, Aaranya and Ashvamedha parvas as the name of a province . It was clearly said that the provinces Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and Suhma were called so after their rulers Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and suhma who were all sons of a king named Bali.
Aadi parva says that Duryodhana endowed this Anga province to Karna to make him a king to overcome the objection of Kripa that Arjuna,being a kshathriya, shall fight a duel only with a king or kshathriya. That donation bought Karna life-long, body and soul, for Duryodhana.
Ashvamedha parva mentions a battle of Anga rulers with Arjuna in the Ashvamedham expedition.
"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."
DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA