154 S. C. Vidyabhusana —Vrdtya and Sarnhara Theories of Caste . [No. 2, 
or “ Doctor.” It was given by the Akkadians, tlie primitive inhabitants 
of Chaldea, to their wisemen, whoso learning was chiefly in what we 
now call astrology and magical arts. The word is found in cuneiform 
inscriptions. It was adopted by the Semitic inhabitants of Babylon, 
and from them by the Medians, Persians, and Greeks. The question 
as to why the Brahmans of (Jaka-dvipa were designated Maga has been 
and may still be answered in many different ways. Some scholars have 
identified the faka-dvlpi Brahmans called Maga with the Median priest¬ 
hood called Magi. I am inclined to suppose that the word Maga was a 
mere title of honour bestowed upon the Brahmans of faka-dvipa under 
circumstances purely political. It is known to most of us that the title 
Majumddr (or Majmu-dftr ) borne by some very respectable classes of the 
Hindus is a Mahomedan word (composed of Arabic Majmu and Persian 
suffix ddr) signifying a record-keeper. I would in the same way believe 
that the Brahmans in the north-western frontier of India got the desig¬ 
nation Maga from the Persian or other foreign rulers.* It is a well- 
known fact that the Indian Brahmans have been designated by Greek- 
writers as Sophists. Are not Maga and Sophist identical in meaning P 
Position of Saka-dvipa. 
Now it is necessary to add here a few words about the probable 
modern site of faka-dvipa. Qaka-dvipa ma y with pretty accuracy 
be identified with Sogdiana; at any rate the latter was included in 
the former. The river lhsu y that according to the Visnupurana 
(Book II Chapter IV) flowed through paka-dvipa, is, in my opinion, 
identical with the Oxus that according to Ptolemy separated Sogdiana 
from Baktriana. The name Sogdianaf exists to this day, being 
preserved in Soghd, which designates the country lying along the 
river Kohik from Bokhara eastward to Samarkand. The records of 
Alexander’s expedition give much information regarding this country, 
for the Macedonian troops were engaged for the better part of three 
years in effecting its subjugation. 
The Mahabharataf helps us in determining more exactly the site 
# Referring to the Indian people living beyond the Indus, Arrian in his Indika 
(McCrindle p. 179) observes:— 
“ They were in old times subject to the Assyrians, then after a period of Median 
rule submitted to the Persians, and paid to Cyrus, the son of Cambyses, the tribute 
from their land which Cyrus had imposed.” 
t McCrindle’s Ptolemy, p. 277. 
t •pax i 
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