Massaga

Massaga (मसागा) was the Ancient Greek name for the site of a city captured by Alexander the Great.

Variants of name

• Massage
• Masaga
• Masaka
• Massaka
• Mashkavati
• Maśkāvatī

History

V. S. Agrawala writes that according to Greek writers Punjab was full of towns, centres of Industry and economic prosperity. Many of these figured as forts of centres of defence such as the famous town of Massage (Mashkavati/Maśkāvatī) or Aornos (Varaṇā) in the country of Ashvakas.

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V.K.Mathur writes that Masaga was a very safe place situated between Sindhu and Panjaura Rivers to capture which Alexander had to do extensive efforts. It was inhabited by Assaka (Ashvaka) people and was their capital. The city was surrounded by mountains, river and artificial trench and boundary.....

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As heard by all men there, in that region of Saka, are four sacred provinces. They are the Mrigas, the Masakas, the Manasas, and the Mandagas.

The Mrigas for the most part are Brahmanas devoted to the occupations of their order.

Amongst the Masakas are virtuous Kshatriyas.

The Manasas live by following the duties of the Vaisya order. Having every wish of theirs gratified, they are also brave and firmly devoted to virtue and profit.

The Mandagas are all brave Sudras of virtuous behaviour.

In these provinces there is no king, no punishment, no person that deserves to be punished. Conversant with the dictates of duty they are all engaged in the practice of their respective duties and protect one another. This much is capable of being said of the region called Saka.

Jat History

Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria) writes that Aggarwal, V.S.; equates Masaka or Massaka with Massagetai of Strabo, Chakshu = Oxus, Kumud = Komedai of Herodotus. Himavat = Heemoda or Hamadan, Sita = Yarkand river, Kumar = Komari of Herodotus, Rishika = Asioi, Tukhara = Tokarai, Gankovsky (op.cit., p.8o, fn.157) informs us that Massagetae: Mahasaka in archaic Iranian, He thus describes its etymology and origin: Mas in old Persian mean great (as Maha in Hindi and Skt.) and T is added as a plural suffix (Derajat, Gujrat etc.). Hence Mas + Saka + T = Massakat, K and g being mutually interchangeable Massakat = Massagat or Massagetai in plural in Greek. Greek language does not have the J. letter, Z or G is used in its place; hence, Zat or Zutt and Jat or Jit or Jatas or Jut, Gat, Gant, Got, Getae.

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