Māgadhas (people of Śāka Dvīpa)

Māgadha, “the kshatriyas of Śāka-dvīpa”

Māgadha has other meanings too: see all meanings of Māgadha.

The Māgadhas are the kshatriyas of Śāka-dvīpa, one of the seven dvīpas of the earth. The Brahma Purāṇa names the four varṇas of that dvīpa: the Magas are the brāhmaṇas, the Māgadhas the kshatriyas, the Mānasas the vaiśyas and the Mandagas the śūdras.

In Śāka-dvīpa

Śāka-dvīpa is ruled by Bhavya, and its seven varshas bear the names of his sons. A great Śāka tree stands there, served by siddhas and gandharvas, and the wind that touches its leaves gives supreme joy. Its people are without fear, without hindrance and free of disease; among them there is no loss of dharma and no going beyond the bounds of śāstra. They drink the waters of seven rivers of great puṇya that came from svarga. The kula-daiva of the people of Śāka-dvīpa is Vishṇu, and they worship Śrī Hari in the form of Sūrya, according to vidhi.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20