The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Introduction to the Purana Literature’ of the study on the Markandeya Purana, one of the oldest of the eigtheen Mahapuranas preserving the history, civilisation, culture and traditions of ancient India. The Markandeyapurana commences with the questions raised by Rishi Jaimini (a pupil of Vyasa), who approaches the sage Markandeya with doubts related to the Mahabharata. This study examines various social topics such as the status of women, modes of worship, yoga, etc.
1.1: Introduction to the Purāṇa Literature
Purāṇas, the Hindu religious scriptures, are invaluable treasures of the world literature. These Purāṇas, which narrate the rich heritage of Indian religion and culture, constitute a vast sector of the rich Sanskrit literature.
According to A. D. Pusalkar—
“They constitute an important source of the cultural history of India as they throw a flood of light on the various aspects of the life and time...... and are valuable as supplying the materials for the study of such diverse subjects as religion and philosophy, folklore and ethnology, literature and sciences, history and geography, politics and sociology.”[1]
The vast collection of the Purāṇas may be described as a popular encyclopaedia of ancient and medieval Hinduism where we can see the religious, philosophical, historical, political and social life of people of ancient times. Moreover, the Purāṇas are the picturesque narrations of the glorious episodes pertaining to the Hindu mythology.
The Purāṇa literature is next to the Vedas and regarded as the soul of the Vedas.[2] Like the Mahābhārata the Purāṇas are said to be the fifth Veda.[3] Smṛti also says that Purāṇas are commentaries on Vedas.[4]
According to the Vāyupurāṇa and the Ṛgveda[5]—
itihāsapurāṇābhyāṃ vedaṃ samupabṛṃhayet/
bibhetyalpaśrutādvedo māmayaṃ prahariṣyati//.
The study of Itihāsa and Purāṇa has been rightly stressed as necessary for the correct interpretation of the Vedas.[6]
According to another view,
“The Purāṇas are the magnifying glass of the Vedas. The principles and rules of Dharma that are briefly dealt with in the Vedas are elaborated upon in them in the form of stories”.[7]
The Skandapurāṇa states that which are not found in the Vedas and the śāstras all are found in the Purāṇas.
All Vedas are sturdily based on the Purāṇas:
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
R. C. Hazra, Studies in the Purāṇic Records on Hindu Rites and Customs, p.1
[3]:
itihāsapurāṇaṃ ca pañcamo veda ucyate // Chāndogyopaniṣad, 7.1.2.4; cf.
itihāsapurāṇāni pañcamaṃ vedamīśvaraḥ / Bhāgavatapurāṇa, 3.12.40; Mahābhārata, 1.57.74
[5]:
Vāyupurāṇa, 1.181,Vide Sāyaṇācārya, Ṛgvedabhāṣyabhūmikā, p.137; Ṛgveda,9.99.4
[6]:
itihāsapurāṇābhyāṃ vedaṃ samupabṛṃhayet / Vāyupurāṇa, 1.181;
itihāsa purāṇābhyāṃ vedaṃ samupabṛhaṃyet/ Mahābhārata, 1.1.204