The Geography of the Puranas c21.s1.12

c21.s1.12

As an example, a question on which it is possible to have two opinions at present, I refer to what you have said about the Sakadwipa. There are many who would place this area somewhere to the north-west of what is now India. In the first place, there is the association with the Sakas or Scythians who certainly invaded India in historical times from the north-west. Among other evidence, I may refer to the origin ascribed in ancient literature to the Sakadwipi Brahman community living in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar. They themselves say that they were invited to India to cure Sri Krishna's grandson Shamba who was suffering from leprosy. They were reputed to be great adepts of the cult of Surya in their homelands. They were known as maga (magis?) Brahmans. You know very well that the priests of the Scythians were known as Magi. They are referred to by this name not only in old Persian literature but even in the Bible. All this would suggest that the land of the Sakas was the land of the Scythians who certainly lived beyond our western frontiers. However, these things only point to the necessity of making further study of this very important subject.