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Macchā

A country, with its people, included in the traditional List of the sixteen great countries (Mahājanapada) (A.i.213; iv. 252, 256, 260).

The Macchā are generally mentioned with the Sūrasenā (e.g., D.ii.200; cp. Kāsikosalā, Vajjimallā). In the Vidhura Jātaka (J. i.280) the Macchā are mentioned among those who witnessed the game of dice between the king of the Kurū and Puṇṇaka.

The Macchā country lay to the south or south west of Indraprastha and to the south of Surasena. Its capital was Virātanagara or Vairāt, so called because it was the city of King Virāta. Rv.vii.6, 18; Law: Anct. Geog. of India, p.19.