Sakaldwipiya History

Shakadwipies are also known as Maga Brahmin in India.

Earlier history

Modern historical theory

Their entrance into this land called India goes back to the time of Mahabharata. A section of Iranian priestly class, called Magi who entered into India, as Magi- Dias or Magi Brahmanas. Magus is the singular for magi. Among the earliest writings concerning the magi are those of Herodotus (Greek historian, 485-425 BC). He cites them as one of the five social classes of the Medes. Probably they were similar to medicine men or shamans who were among the earliest of peoples, and somewhat paralleled to the India Brahmins in their early period. [Mrs. Debala Mitra, Foreign Elements In Indian Culture, The cultural Heritage of India,vol.II,pp612-615] In his times, Herodotus notes, the magi had become Zoroastrian priests. He mentioned a band of aboriginal shamans who were captured by Aryans. The shamans not only learned their captors' religion but also became priests in it. By the fourth century C.E., these priests had gained such power that they were able to vigorously persecute Jews and Christians in Persia.The Hebrew term for magus was "Chartumin," while in Greek it was "Magos." The term "Magus" or "Magi" seems to have several meanings including wise men, magicians, and magians. Their antiquity is distinguished in both Egypt and Chaldaea. In Egypt they were said to possess secret learning and wisdom. Also in Egypt and Chaldaea they were the sole seers and interrupters of sacred things in the past and future, but in Palestine they were never ranked with the prophets, unless among the idolatrous people. This would not mean that all were idolaters themselves, but some failed to express the orthodox views of the time. Some enhanced their eminent positions by displaying occult knowledge. They were considered sort of sacred scribes among the Jews, skilled in divination and the interpretation of certain scripture passages for hidden meanings.Their domination or authority seemed to have extended beyond Persia] throughout the entire Mediterranean area.

Bhavishya Purana & Sakaldwipiya

A detailed, though legendary, account of their immigration into India is given in some Puranas. The substance of what is given in the Bhavishya Purana is as follows. Samba, a son of Krishna, was stricken with leprosy. He was cured of the disease through the worship of Sun god, and Magus doctor with Ayurveda and he erected a temple of god at Mitravana on the chandrabhaga. No Brahmin willing to serve as priest at the temple, Samba has to bring in eight families of the Sun worshipping Maga Brahmins, descendants of Jarasabda(viz.Jalagambu, Jarasastra, evidently Zoroaster)from Shakdvipa, and settle them at Sambpura, built by him. These Brahmins were given daughters of Bhoja line in marriage and hence become known as Bhojakas.

:No one knows the Mantra – Tantra, Vishya of Lord Surya as Shakdwipiya knows because they do it regularly.They were born form Sun’s mouth, so they are son of Lord Sun therefore Shakdvipiya are worshiped among all Bhavishya Purana"Fact|date=September 2008

According to Bhavishya Purana and other texts, they were invited to settle in Punjab (Pakistan) to conduct the worship of Lord Sun (Mitra or Surya in Sanskrit). Bhavishya Purana explicitly associates them to the rituals of the Zoroastrian faith.The Maga did not confine them to Sambpura, identified with the modern Multan, where Hiuen Tsang saw a grand Sun temple in the seventh century. They soon spread over other parts of India. Ptolemy vouches for the existence of the ‘Maga’ in the South India.

akaldwipiya & Mahabharata

In Mahabharata it is stated that lord krisna had a son samb. he was suffering from leprosy. That's why Krishna called special Brahmin's of shakdvipa (belived that present iran). They were sun worshipers and famous astronomer. They treated samb and freed him from leprocy. Shakdvipiya brahmin originated from those shakdvipa origin brahmins and also called magi brahmin. Sakaldwipya are specialized in ayurveda(old indian method of treatment) and astronomy, astrology and Sakaldwipya are sun worshiper so called Saura.

Iranian Magi & Sakaldwipiya

Maga is the term applied to Zoroastrian/Mazdayasti priests. Balkh in Bactria (Afghanistan) was a major center of Zoroastrianism. Śākadvīp corresponds to regions of Afghanistan beyond the Hindukush mountains. [Mrs. Debala Mitra, Foreign Elements In Indian Culture, The cultural Heritage of India,vol.II,pp612-615,The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture,Calcutta,1962]

The 8 Mandaga kulas were married to Śaka (Saka, who were eastern Scythians, distinct from African Shaka) and their descendants were not called Mandaga, and were considered to be Śūdras. [Besides IAST|Jāti-Bhāṣkara, "Brāhmaṇotpatti-mārtaṇḍa" also narrates this story.]

These communities have historically served as the priests of the Sun god (Surya, Mitra in Sanskrit, Mithra in Avestan). Sanskrit word mihir is related to Sun and one Śākadvīpī gotra name is mihirāsu, which points to Persian connections (Mihr in Persian).The Iranian Surya (sun god) wearing a long coat with a sacred girdle and knee-high boots was worshipped by Indian kings. He had a special name Mundira svami and the word Mundira is found in ancient Iranian texts from Khotan. The Sun Temple of Modhera in Gujarat and Munirka village in Delhi remind of the name Mundira. The Sun God at Konark Sun Temple,Konark, Orissa is famous in his Iranian drapery and boots. The royal priests of this royal surya were of Iranian descent like Sakadvipiya Brahmanas [‘India and Iran: A Dialogue’, paper by Prof. Lokesh Chandra]

"Few people have been more closely related in origin and throughout history than the people of India and the people of Iran" – Jawahar Lal Nehru [‘Discovery of India’, by Jawaharlal Nehru.page number]

Bible & Sakaldwipiya

The three Magi which visited the Christ Child were said to be Jews. So, this would seem to indicate the term Magi was not strictly a cultural or racial one, but more of a professional one. The three Magi were said to be astrologers who were seeking the meaning of a meteor that appeared in the sky at that time.The Three Wise Men are given the names Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar in this Romanesque mosaic from the Basilica of St Apollinarius in Ravenna, Italy.A Magus (plural Magi,(from Latin, via Greek μάγος ; Old English: Mage; from Old Persian maguš) was a member of the Magi tribe from ancient Media, (inhabitants of Persia) [1] , who were responsible for the religious and funerary practices. Later they accepted the Zoroastrian religion, however, not without changing the original message of its founder, Zarathustra. They became the guardians of religion under the three Persian empires. The best known Magi are the "Wise Men from the East", in the Bible. And, of whom Marco Polo wrote that he had seen their graves in what is today the district of Saveh, in Tehran, Iran. In English, the term may refer to a shaman, sorcerer, or wizard; it is the origin of the English words magic and magician

These Magi are thought to have come from the kingdom of Parthia since magianism was that country's chief religion; or, they may have came from Eastern Chaldaea. When arriving in Jerusalem their appearance, clothes, and the gifts they bore indicated that they were above their country's ordinary citizen class.

Except for the Magi who visited Jesus, they were not always spoken highly of in the Old Testament. Examples of this are Simon Magus and Elymas Magus. Many Magi were present in or about Roman courts as they accompanied high ranking officials and governors. Therefore, they were socially accepted in Roman society.

However, their creditability was questioned by some throughout history. Philo (Jewish philosopher, 20 BC - 50 AD), for example, said the Magi perverted the magical arts.The main objection to their activities seemed to be centered around dream interpretation, which entailed seeing into the future as well as the past. The Hebrews raised strict objections to such activity too, although it must be noted that in the Bible both Joseph and Daniel interpreted dreams, and King Solomon in desperation secretly visited a Magus at night who practiced necromancy. Dream interpretation was also practiced in Egypt, Persia, and Babylonia.The scribes called Jesus a demon, particularly Beelzebub, when he exorcised possessed persons. The scribed actually accused Christ of being a magus. The same charge could have been brought against the early Christians who cast out demons. The Roman Catholic Church still practices exorcism.The early Christian writer Saint Ignatius (bishop of Antioch, d. c. 107) commenting on the Book of Ephesians said with the birth of Jesus Christ all magic had been overthrown.

Philo realized that magic still existed even though Ignatius wanted to deny it. Philo recognized that Jews and Christians were still using similar magical techniques but giving them different names.

Maga in Europe

In the 13th century Cyprian, the bishop of Carthage, in his "Confessio Sancti Cypriani 7" refers to himself as Magos philosopher, and in his "Homologia" as Cyprian the Magas, while busy with magic and possessing magical scriptures.In the 13th century a German named Albertus Magnus might be considered another magus. In the 16th century another German appeared on the scene who might also be considered a magus. This man, who is commonly called Agrippa, influenced occultists for generations. In the same century lived the famous physician, chemist, and occultist Paracelsus. Although this man contributed much to modern medicine, like Agrippa, he too was always in trouble with his contemporaries for his advanced ideas. The first two men allegedly found the Philosopher's Stone but, Paracelsus was still seeking it for the good of humanity.

Maga in India

The Zoroastrians form a very small religious minority in India, many of whom are Persia. After invading Arabs succeeded in taking Ctesiphon in 637, Islam largely superseded Zoroastrianism, and the power of the Magi faded. Many (but not all) of the magus fled the advent of Islam in Persia, or Iran, by emigrating to India, settling in western principalities which form the modern states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. As one can only be Zoroastrian by birth, the number of Persia and Zoroastrians in the world is shrinking, and the remaining population risks passing down genetic defects as with any small community. Suffice to say Persia are very rare, and Magi are even rarer.In India there is a community termed Maga, Bhojaka or Shakadvipi Brahmins. Their major centers are in Rajasthan in Western India and near Gaya in Bihar.

The members of the community still worship in Sun temples in India. They are also hereditary priests in several Jain temples in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Bhojakas are mentioned in the the copperplates of of the Kadamba dynasty (4-6th cent) as managers of Jain institutions.Images of Lord Sun in India are shown wearing a central Asian dress, complete with boots. The term "Mihir" in India is regarded to represent the Maga influence.

akaldwipiya in Mauryan dynasty

Bhojakas are mentioned in the inscriptions of Maurya Ashoka and Kharavela. Kadamba dynasty copperplates found in Karnataka mention Bhojakas as manages of Jain institutions.

The Shakadvipi Brahmins of Bihar are considered to be closely related to the Bhojakas. The Bhojakas are historically associated with several Jain temples in Gujarat and Rajasthan, where they serve as priests and attendants [cf. People of India] [cf. Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India] .

Scholar Varahamihira,Charaka,Aryabhata,Vanbhatt and Chanakya are believed to have belonged to this community.

Kingdoms

Pushyamitra, the first Maga-Brahmin established his empire in India and restored Modern Hinduism from Buddhists.

In modern times, Shakadwipi Brahman of Godda district in Uttar Pradesh established his kingdom at Ayodhya. The king of Ayodhya was shakadwipiya, their descendents still live in the castle of Ayodhya.

Modern History of Ayodhya begins with the Shakadwipi kings who reigned until the enactment of abolishment rule in 1955 that brought the dissolution of the Raja of Ayodhya. In the beginning of the 19th century one Sadasukh Pathak was appointed as the Zamindar of Ayodhya by the King of Delhi but when Nawab Mir Qasim of Bengal became the ruler of the area, his Zamindari was taken away and he along with his son Gopal Ram went to Amroha in the district of Basti, where they settled down in Nand Nagar.

Modern India

The Govindpur inscription of 1137-38 attests to the existence in Gaya,Bihar of a highly Cultured Maga Family, celebrated for its learning, Vedic studies and poetic faculty, whom Samb himshelf brought hither. [Encyclopaedia indica II,330] . Other references to the Magas in inscriptions show that they completely amalgamated themselves with the Hindus by adopting Indian names, manners and customs, and except for the accidental mention of the term Maga, it is impossible for historian to distinguish them as foreigners. They took part in every sphere of our activity and enriched Indian poetry too [D. Mitra 1937,613] .They contributed much to astronomy and astrology. The famous astronomer Varahamihira was himshelf a Maga. The descendants of the Maga Brahmins are still interested in astrology, foretelling, divination, propitiation of planetary deities(graha-yoga),etc. As they enjoyed the gift made for the propitiation of Grahas(planets), they are called Graham vipras(astrologers).But the most important contribution, of the Maga Brahmin(who were elevated to the status of Brahmins in some indigenous texts)was the introduction of a particular form of Sun worship which is different from the ancient indigenous mode.
Varahamihira directs that the installation of the Surya images should be made by the Magas, who were the fit person to worship the God [Vrihata samhita 60,19]
Iconographies texts enjoin that the images of Surya(Sun)should be dressed like northerner with the legs covered, that he should wear a coat of a male and a girdle. The early representations of the God actually follow these injunctions. In later times, how ever, attempts were made to Indianise the foreign features by discarding some of them and by inventing stories to interpret the others. It is very much clear from different historical account that the Shakdwipi Brahamin were instrumental in not only introducing Sun-worship but also construction of Sun - Temples In different part of the country (viz.Kashmir, Kathiawad and Somnath in Gujrat, Dholpur in Rajasthan, Hissar in Jodhpur, Bharatput and Khajuraho inMadhya pradesh, Konark in Orissa etc.) [ [Basudeo Upadhyay,1982 116-124] ] . The three famous Sun temples at Deo, Devkund and Umga in Bihar were also constructed on their recommendationsThe Maga-vyakti of Krishnadas Mishra contains an elaborate account of these Maga Brahmin. The descendants of the Magas are known in different places by different names. In Rajasthan, they are called Bhojakas. They are known in Bengal as Graham Vipras and Acharya Brahmin, interested in astrology and the lore of the planets. Some of the Shakdwipi Brahmin of Bihar and Uttar pradesh are Ayurvedic Physicians, some are priests in Rajput families, while others are landholders. There are also many who had taken to other professions. [D.Mitra,1937, 615] .

Contribution

They were the priest of many Indian Kingdoms until British regime in India. This community has produced many astrologers, Ayurveda specialists, poets, Priests and novelists in this country. Mention may be made of Aryabhatta, Varahamihira,Vanbhatta,Vagbhatta etc.

There are numerous scholars, physicists, engineers, doctors, administrators belonging to this community in Modern India.

Famous Sakaldwipiya

* Mathematician Aryabhata
* Astronomer Varahamihira
* Ayurveda's founder Charaka
* Acharya Chanakya
* Founder Shunga dynasty, Pusyamitra
* A Navratna,Vetala Bhatta
*Ban bhatt
*Bag Bhatt
* Jain Acharya,Bhadrabahu
* Poet Magh
* Hindi Poet Pt. Janki Vallabh Shastri

Wiki Link

References

References Books

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