The Markandeya Purana (Study)

by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words

This page relates ‘Women in the Field of Yoga’ 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.

Women in the Field of Yoga

In this Purāṇa, some examples are available which prove that the woman also used to practise Yoga. Anasūyā, the wife of sage Atri, practised Yoga along with her husband and was able to receive a boon from the gods to release herself from affliction and to be blessed with Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva as her sons.[1] Another example of practising Yoga is narrated in the 21 st Chapter of the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa. It has been stated that a Nāga king, Aśvatara by name, practised Yoga and chose a boon from lord Śiva to have Madāasā, the deceased wife of Ṛtadhaja, as his daughter having alive the same age as when she died and making her a devote and the mother of Yoginī.[2]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

varadā varayogyā ca yadyahaṃ bhavatāṃ matā /
tadyāntu mama putratvaṃ brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ //
yogaṃ ca prāpnuyāṃ bhartṛsaṃhitā kleśamuktaye / Ibid., 16.90-91 a

[2]:

Ibid., 21.66-67

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