The Markandeya Purana (Study)

by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words

This page relates ‘Edible Juices’ 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.

Edible Juices

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The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa mentioned various kinds of edible juices. According to this purāṇa the people of Kiṃpuruṣavarṣa drank plakṣa tree’s (fig-tree) juice.^[1] They enjoyed drinking this juice. The Matsyapurāṇa, mentioned about the Kiṃpuruṣavarṣa drink, which is made by Plakṣa tree.^[2] Also the people of Hāvṛtavarṣa considered Jambufruit’s juice.^[3] In fact, they consider jambu-fruit’s juice as their food. In Hāvṛtavarṣa, the sugarcane juice was used as a drink.^[4] In the Matsyapurāṇa, the Havṛtavarṣa’s people used sugarcane drink.^[5] It is also noticed that the sugarcane juice made them free from illness. Sugarcane juice is common all over the world till now. The juice of the Nyagrodha (Ficus indica) tree’s fruits was used by the people of Ramyavarṣa.^[6] According to this Purāṇa the sweetness of fruits is comparable to nectar.^[7]

The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa also mentions nectar and poison for the comparison purpose. Both the things are contradictory to each other. Amṛta is capable of giving immortality or longevity while the viṣa is destroying, when consumed. In the context of Yogin’s religious course it is stated that men compare disrespect or insult (apamāna) and respect (māna) to ambrosia and dire poison respectively. Here insult and respects are compared to nectar (amṛta) and poison (visa) accordingly.^[8]