1.9: The Authorship of the Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa

The authorship of the all the Purāṇas is a big controversy. The Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa is one of the eighteen Mahāpurāṇas. There is also mystery about the authorship of this Mahāpuraṇa. It is said that, lord Brahmā created only one Purāṇa at the beginning of the universe. That Purāṇa comprising one billion verses was very voluminous and tough for all people. Then Maharṣi Vedavyāsa divided that Purāṇa into eighteen sections and all these eighteen sections became easier and very simple to understand for the common people. So Maharsi Vedavyāsa divided that Purāṇa with the sole idea of popularizing the knowledge and ancient discourse depicted in the Purāṇa. The total number of verses of eighteen Purāṇas is four lacs.^[1] The Matsyapurāṇa also mentions that, Vyāsa composed all the Purāṇas.^[2] Sage Mārkaṇḍeya is ascribed to be the author of the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa. At the beginning of this Purāṇa, Brahmā told about this Purāṇa to Maharṣi Bhṛgu. Then Maharṣi Bhṛgu told it to Cyavanamuni, Cyavana told it to Brahmarṣis, at last Brahmarṣis told it to Dakṣa Prajāpati. After that Dakṣa Prajāpati told it to Maharṣi Mārkaṇḍeya. Later on Maharṣi Mārkaṇḍeya narrated this Purāṇa to Jaimini and other sages. Then it was spread among the common people.^[3]