Brahma Purana According to the
Brahma Purana, the ocean known as
Kshira Sagara is surrounded by Shakadvipa, which is described to be twice the size of Kraunchadvipa, another island. The sovereign of the island is called Bhavya, and he is mentioned as having seven sons, offering each a region of the land: Jalada, Sukumara, Kaumara, Maṇīcaka, Kusumottara, Modaka, and Mahadruma. The seven mountains that exist on this island are Udaya, Jaladhara, Raivataka, Shyama, Ambikeya, Astikeya, and Kesari. A great shaka (teak) tree is described to grow there, frequented by
gandharvas and
siddhas. The members of the four
varnas who live here do so without contracting any disease. The Magas are the
Brahmanas, the Magadhas are the
Kshatriyas, the Manasas are the
Vaishyas, and the Mandagas are the
Shudras. The seven sacred rivers that flow through this island are stated to be Sukumari, Kumari, Nalini, Renuka, Ikshu, Dhenuka, and Gabhasti. No excesses of any emotion are stated to be experienced by the islanders.
Vishnu is stated to be worshipped here, in his form of
Surya. Here Ikshu river (Also In Sanskrit texts, the river is also referred to as Vakṣu (वक्षु). The Brahmanda Purana refers to the river as Chaksu (चक्षु) which means 'an eye' in sanskrit) river mentioned is identified with modern
Oxus river(
Amu Darya) River. Magas mentioned above are associated closely with
maga bramhanas brought by
Samba From
sakadvipa to mulasthan identified with
Multhan sun temple to establish
surya idol in the temple to cure the leprosy curse of
samba as mentioned in
Samba purana Chapters 26-27 of this text narrate the story of bringing the eighteen
Maga Brahmins families from Śākadvīpa by Samba and appointing them as the priests of the
Surya temple in Mitravan(Identified to be the older name of
multhan). He is then told in chapter 27 that only the Maga Brahmins in Shakadvipa are capable of worshiping the idol of Surya. Samba then went to Shakadvipa and fetched Maga Brahmins to worship Surya. The Maga are described as reciting the Vedas in a mysterious way, they wear avayanga. They drink homa juice. Samba brought 18 families from
Shakadvipa, flying on the divine bird
Garuda. The image Idol of
Surya explained that it was crafted in Shakadvipa itself, and eventually arrived at Mitravana(
Multhan Sun temple).
Vishnu Purana The account of Shakadvipa in the
Vishnu Purana is much the same as the Brahma Purana. The inhabitants of this island are described to be extremely virtuous, feeling no jealousy and transgressing no boundaries. ==See also==