We know about the names of Sodas Mahajanapada (Sixteen Kingdoms) of ancient India. There is a
remarkable role of Magadha Mahajanapada in history. It is to say that the Kasi Mahajanapada was west
towarded and Anga was east towarded of Magadha. Now a question may be arisen about the name origin of
Magadha. In reply at present it is considered that the name Magadha has come from the name of a tribe or a
bird. However, we have to think the matter scientifically.
The most important river Ganga rises in the Himalayas and comes to plainland at Haridwar. From Haridwar the river flows south-east and comes to Varanasi. From this area the river leaves the way of southeast and takes the way of semi east side. The east towarded Ganga reaches near the Rajmahal hills. From
this area the river leaves the way of east and takes south side to reach the meeting point of Ganga and the
Bay of Bengal at Gangasagar, a place of Hindu pilgrimage.
The entire Ganga flow might be throught by the views of navigators or ancient geographers. The
river way from Haridwar to Gangasagar was navigable. The navigators divided the entire navigable way
into three parts. The parts were as follows : The first part was from Haridwar to Varanasi, the second part
from Varanasi to Rajmahal and the third part from Rajmahal to Gangasagar. The first part was considered as
Urdha Ganga Dhara or upper Ganga flow, the second part as Madhya Ganga Dhara or middle Ganga flow
and the third part nimna Ganga Dhara or lower Ganga flow. At a time firstly- the first utterance MA of
word Madhya, Secondly- the first utterance GA of Ganga and thirdly- the first utterance DHA of Dhara
were added as MAGADHA.
The path of history is very strange. Geography and science of language are telling that the name of
Madhya Ganga Dhara is Magadha.