The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Socio-Cultural aspects reflected in the Markandeyapurana (Introduction)’ 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.
Socio-Cultural aspects reflected in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Introduction)
Society is a group of people living together having a common goal or purpose. The common uniting factors may vary from each other. The members of the society are associated together for social, cultural, religious, scientific and political purposes. These common factors are responsible for the names of different societies. There exists a mutual relationship amongst the people of different ages, different castes, different occupations etc. in a society. To describe a society one must discuss the family, custom, position of women, food, drink, dress, decoration, caste, āśramas and marital laws etc. of the concerned society.
The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa presents a diverse range of topics including society. It includes an exposition of political, religious and social doctrine in the guise of instruction given by Madālasā to Alarka. The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa exhibits a distinct picture of the society, specially in the chapters from 24th to 32nd.
The socio-cultural data from the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa can be discussed in the following heads—
- Varṇāśramadharma,
- Marriage system,
- Family structure,
- Position of women,
- Food, dress, ornaments etc.,
- Customs and duties,
- Beliefs and Superstitions.