The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Role of Women as 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.
Role of Women as Wife
The role of a woman, as a wife, is very significant. As a patnī or ardhāṅginī or sahadharmiṇī she remains always associated to her husband. The happiness of a married couple exists in the ideal relationship of both the husband and the wife. Yet the wife is seen to be very careful. Amongst those, who are liable to respect or worship, the wife places her husband in the highest place.
As stated in the Bhāgavatapurāṇa the husband is the supreme deity for a wife:
The Rāmāyaṇa also describes the husband to be the goal of a wife:
The Padmapurāṇa states the great importance and relation between husband and wife through the sacred tie.[3] The purity of husband wife’s bondage is as old as in the Ṛgveda.[4]
In the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa also wives are shown to be always humble and loyal to her husband’s service. It has been stated that as a sign of high respect to her husband, a wife should always eat the food which has been left by the husband.[5] A wife is the cause of righteousness, happiness, wealth and love for her husband. In the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa a wifeless man is not respected.[6]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Bhāgavatapurāṇa, 6.18.33
[2]:
Rāmāyaṇa, ayodhyākānda, 27.10
[3]:
Padmapurāṇa, Bhūmikhaṇḍa, 42.39
[4]:
A.S. Altekar, Position of Women in Hindu Civilization, p.31
[5]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 47.66,73
[6]:
Ibid., 71.9-11