The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Relation of Husband and Wife’ 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.
Relation of Husband and Wife
The husband and wife constitute an individual unit of the society. The relation between husband and wife is the base of domestic happiness.[1]
According to Āpastambha:
“No division takes place between husband and wife, for since the time of marriage they stand united in respect of religious ceremonies and similarly in regard to the rewards for such deeds as produce spiritual merit and also with regard to the acquisition of property.”[2]
In the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa the love relation between a couple is described very beautifully which is considered to be highly blessed. An extramarital relation of both the husband and the wife is considered as the serious sinful act which can ruin the man’s life and bring misery for the whole life. So it was regarded as painful and harmful.[3] As stated in this purāṇa the wives play a major role in the family and in the life of her husband. The wife always consorts her husband and serves the husband with high respect. Again she has the right of residence in the husband’s house. To leave or abandon a wife is considered to be a sinful act.[4] Both of them suffer in their disposition and in that situation they support each other as a helper.[5] This spirit can hold the strong relation between husband and wife and then the family can be considered as an ideal family.
In the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, there is a dialogue between Anasūyā, the chaste wife of Atri, and a brahmaṇa’s chaste wife centering round the problem of a wife’s love and faithfulness to her husband and his climax or culmination. The husband is regarded as the highest pleasure or joy, God, deity for a wife.[6] For a woman, her husband and her love for him is the main goal of her life. This tends to her benefit now and in future also. Then she finds happiness here and after death.[7] A wife believes that all her desires will be successful through her service to her husband.[8]
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
jāyāpatyorna vibhāgo vidyate / pāṇigrahaṇād hi sahatvaṃ karmasu / tathā puṇyaphaleṣu/ dravyaparigraheṣu ca / Āpastambadharmasūtra, 2.6.16-19
[3]:
paradārā na gantavyāḥ puruṣeṇa vipaścitā //
iṣṭāpūrtāyuṣāṃ hantrī paradāragatir nṛṇām /
na hīdṛśam anāyuṣyaṃ loke kiñcana vidyate //
yādṛśaṃ puruṣasyeha paradārābhimarśanam / Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 31.62 b-64 a; cf. Manusmṛti, 4.134; Mahābhārata, 13.104.21
[4]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 12.5; 14.69-70
[5]:
[6]:
yato bhartā parā gatiḥ / Ibid., 16.63 b
[7]:
jānāmyetanna nārīṇāṃ kaccit patisamāgatiḥ /
tat prītiścopakārāya iha loke paratra ca //
patiprasādādiha ca pretya caiva yaśasvinī /
nārī sukhamavāpnoti nāryā bhartā hi daivatam // Ibid., 16.67-68
nārīṇāṃ bharturanyanna daivatam / Ibid, 20.33 a; cf. Mahāhārata, 13.146.55; Matsyapurāṇa, 216.17