Magha untranslated

Magha. The name Sakka bore in a previous birth when he was born as a man in Macalagāma in Magadha. The usual form of the name is a derivative – e.g., Ja.vi.212; he is often called Maghavā Sujampati – e.g., Ja.iii.146; iv.403; v.137, 139; vi.102, 481, 573; or Maghavā Sakko – e.g., Ja.v.141; see also Mvu.i.165, 167 (sahasranetro Maghavān va sobhase) and Mvu.iii.366 (Sakro āha: Maghavān ti me āhu syaloke).

His story is given in the Kulāvakajātaka (Ja 31). For a slightly different version see Dhp­a.i.264ff. Because of his birth as Magha, Sakka came to be known as Maghavā. Maghavā was, perhaps, not the personal name of any particular Sakka, but a title of all Sakkas, because the Sakka who was the real Magha is identified with the Bodhisatta (Ja.i.207), while the Buddha says (SN.i.231; Dhp­a.i.264) that the Sakka, who visited him, and whose conversation is recorded in the Sakkapañhasutta, was also known as Maghavā. The title probably originated from the time when Magha became Sakka.

The Saṁyutta Commentary, however, says that Magha was not the Bodhisatta, but that his life was like that of a Bodhisatta (Bodhisattacariyā viyassa cariyā ahosi); in which case the name Maghavā belongs only to the present Sakka (SN­a.i.267; this is supported by the story as given in DN­a.iii.710 ff. and Dhp­a.i.264ff., where no mention is made of the Bodhisatta). Magha took upon himself seven vows (vatapadāni), which brought him birth as Sakka: to maintain his parents, to revere his elders, to use gentle language, to utter no slander, to be free from avarice, to practise generosity and open-handed liberality and kindness, to speak the truth, to be free from anger (SN.i.227f.; SN­a.i.267). For this and other titles of Sakka, see Sakka.

Māgha 01. A sage of old. Ja.vi.99.

Māgha 02. A youth of Rājagaha. He visited the Buddha at Gijjhakūṭa and asked if he would gain greatly by the gifts he made to various people, gifts which were rightly obtained. The Buddha answered that his gifts would bear great fruit. At the end of the Buddha’s discourse, Māgha became his follower. Snp. pp. 86ff.; Snp­a.ii.413ff.

Māgha 03. See Sakka and Magha.

Māgha 04. A usurper from Kāliṅga who came to Ceylon with a band of Keraḷa warriors in about 1215 CE., deposed the reigning king, Parakkamapaṇḍu II., blinded him, and occupied the throne at Pulatthipura. Being a bigoted Hindu, he destroyed the Buddhist religious buildings and burnt their books. He persecuted the people in various ways and distributed their land among his warriors. He ruled for twenty-one years, and seems to have been succeeded at Pulatthipura by Jayabāhu (q.v.) (Cv.lxxx.58ff). During part of his reign, Vijayabāhu III. (q.v.) ruled over a portion of Ceylon. Cv.lxxxi.10ff.