The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Pativrata Wives’ 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.
Pativratā Wives
Pativratā means the wife who is chaste and virtuous and devoted to her husband. These wives are seen to be endowed with extraordinary power. This power of the Pativratā wives has been expressed through some stories which are mingled with supernatural occurrences. Such an incident is also described in this Purāṇa where the extraordinary power of a chaste lady has been expressed. According to the story, a brāhmana leper being enamoure of a prostitute ordered his devoted and chaste wife to take him to the prostitute at night. Accordingly, while she was taking her husband to the prostitute in her arms, suddenly his foot struck against the body of a sage. The sage, out of anger, cursed him that he would die with sun-rise. Hearing his curse the chaste wife of the leper announced that if she was pativratā then the sun would never rise. For the virtue of her chastity her words came to be true and the whole creation was in danger because of her pativratā and devoted nature.
Thus this purāṇa shows the critical attitude towards the women. Through the position of women reflects the progress of the society which shows the social framework of the society.