Sri Magaradhvaja Yogi 700
By Hiralal Jain
Summary
This piece examines the legend of the Magaradhvaja Yogi as it appears in Indian folklore and Buddhist chronicles. Magaradhvaja is portrayed as an ascetic who lived near the route supposedly taken by Prince Vijaya on his way to Sri Lanka. The article notes that the authors of the Dīpavaṃsa and Mahāvaṃsa, writing many centuries after Vijaya, mention Magaradhvaja as a yogi whose prophecies guided the prince. The narrative likely reflects the practice of incorporating local holy men into royal myths to lend spiritual legitimacy to political ventures. The author also analyses geographical references, showing that places associated with Magaradhvaja, such as Broach and Sopāra on the western coast, were important maritime centres. These details support the hypothesis that the Vijaya legend has a western Indian locus. The piece concludes by suggesting that Magaradhvaja Yogi symbolises the synthesis of ascetic ideals and mercantile expansion in the formation of early Sinhalese identity.
Conclusion
The legend of Magaradhvaja Yogi illustrates how historical narratives blend spiritual figures with political events. By situating a yogi on the maritime route to Sri Lanka, the story links asceticism with the commercial and colonial ventures of early travellers.