Magha (Sanskrit: माघ, Magh) was a Sanskrit poet at King Varmalata's court at Shrimala, the then capital of Gujarat (present Bhinmal of Rajasthan). Magha's fame rests entirely on the kavya ‘Shishupala Vadha’. It is believed that Magha wrote some other works that are now lost. Unlike most Indian poets in the past who give no autobiographical details, Magha, in the last five verses of his work gives some factual details. These verses are therefore called the nija-vaṃśa-varṇana or kavi-vaṃśa-varṇana by commentators.
Magha was born in a wealthy Shrimali Brahmin family. He was the son of Dattaka Sarvacharya and grandson of Suprabhadeva, a minister at the court of a king whose name is mentioned in different editions as Varmalata, Dharmanabha, Dharmanatha, Varmalakhya, etc. Magha is quoted by Anandavardhana, Bhoja, and in the Kavirajamarga, thus putting him no later than the 8th century.
His Mahakavya ‘Shishupala Vadha’ containing 1650 stanzas and in 20 sargas (cantos), is based on the Mahabharata episode where the rebellious king Shishupala is beheaded by Lord Krishna. During ‘Rajasuya Yagya' performed by the king Yudhishthira, there was disagreement between Shishupala on the one hand, and Bhishma, Yudhishthira, and Lord Krishna on the other. Shishupala abused Lord Krishna in a filthy language. The situation escalated that Lord Krishna was constrained to halt Shishupala. Magha was not completely dependent on the legend as it appears in the Mahabharata. His main interest was in descriptions and sketches. Almost half of the poem has nothing to do with the actual story. He invested in this work all his rich vast and limitless vocabulary, pure grammar, all-encompassing erudition and knowledge, command over the language, and ornate elegant style.
It is said that ‘Shishupala Vadha’ is a living dictionary of the Sanskrit language. Few commentators believed that even when one reads up to the 9th canto of his work, one finds that no new word of Sanskrit is left to be discovered. The ‘Shishupala Vadha’ shows that Magha’s knowledge was encyclopaedic and he was a versatile genius. He was well versed in Shastras, political science, was sensitive to understand the human fragilities and human virtues and their impact on social interaction, had an eye for beauty, understood the effects of seasonal changes in climate and weather on human life and environment, had a fair acquaintance with painting and sculptures, knew different philosophies. His reading encompassed among other subjects, Astrology, Astronomy, Vedas, Vedantas, Dramatics, and Science dealing with elephants and horses.
Magha is believed to be inspired by poet Bharavi. He is often compared to him. Whilst comparing Magha’s works with Bharavi’s works, scholars find that Magha glorifies Lord Krishna whereas Bharavi glorifies Shiva. Moreover, while Bharavi uses 19 metres Magha uses 23; like Bharavi’s 15th canto full of contrived verses, Magha introduces even more complicated verses in his 19th canto. A popular Sanskrit verse about Magha says (after translation): “The similes of Kalidasa, Bharavi’s depth of meaning, Dandini’s wordplay—in Magha, all three qualities are found.” Another Sanskrit saying tells (after translation) “the lustre of the sun lasts until the advent of Magha (the coldest month), but the lustre of Bharavi lasts until the advent of Magha.” Consequently, Magha is seemed to be more admired as a poet than his work as a whole and it is considered “even the sections of the work that may be considered digressions from the story, have the nature of an anthology and are more popular.” However, Magha follows Bharavi's structure too closely.
Magha influenced Ratnakara's Haravijaya, an epic in 50 cantos that suggests a thorough study of the Shishupalavadha. The Dharmashramabhyudaya, a Sanskrit poem by Harischandra in 21 cantos on Dharmanatha the 15th Tirthankara, is modeled on the Shishupalavadha.
Magha was not only a great poet but also a great human being. Although he was wealthy, he died in poverty because he was very kind and generous in helping the poor, sharing his wealth with the needy, and distributed money freely in charity.
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