Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Ar included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Ār
The significance of the number six among the ancients, is given below. (In Malayālam Ār means six).
Six factors which reduce the span of life.
Eating dry meat, Drinking curd at night, Sleeping at dawn, Drinking impure water, Exposure to sun’s heat in the morning, Inhaling fumes from dead body.
Six divine qualities.
Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Sarvakāraṇatva (being the cause of everything); Sarvanityatva (immortality) and Sarveśvaratva (having domination over everything).
Six noblest qualities.
Truth, Wisdom, Mercy, Justice, fortitude in grief, control of anger.
Six Ṛsi Dharmas (Duties of Sages).
Brahmacarya, Absolute truth, Japa, Jñāna (wisdom), Niyama, Sense of Justice.
Six qualities of noble wives.
A minister in business, a servant-maid in action, the goddess Lakṣmī in appearance, the Earth in patience, a mother in love and a prostitute in bed.
Six qualities of a bad wife.
Habit of dispute, stealing of money, showing favour to strangers, scandal-mongering, taking food earlier than the husband, spending most of the time in other houses.