The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Food that are not to be Stolen’ 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.
Food that are not to be Stolen
This Purāṇa mentions some foods that one is not supposed to steal.
- Caṇa[1] (caṇaka),
- Dugdha (milk)[2],
- Ghṛta (ghī, clarified butter)[3],
- Godhūma (wheat),
- Kalama (kind of rice),
- Māṣa (kind of bean,black gram),
- Kalāya[4] (kind of pea or pulse),
- Lavaṇa (salt)[5],
- Madhu (honey),
- Apūpa or pūpa (cake),
- Taila (sesamum oil)[6] etc.
Stealing of the above mentioned foods is considered as a sinful act.
Besides these Madhu is used in the sense of soma, milk, sweet food, honey etc in the Ṛgveda.[7] This food yields endless satisfaction to the manes.[8] In this Purāṇa, king Śatrujit’s son Ṛtadhvaja did not eat madhu without his two Nāga princes friends.[9] When king Svarociṣ enjoyed with his wives, at that time the use of madhu is shown, which is given by Nidhis to him.[10] Again in the episode of Devīmāhātmya, goddess Chaṇḍikā drank madhu at the time of battle. She told Mahiṣāsura to wait for a while till the time she drank madhu.[11] Madhuparka is a mixture of honey, curd and butter.
According to Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa this food is referred to as something that is offered to Brahmins.[12] Modaka is a kind of mixture food where wheat flour, sugar, ghee, cardamom and other ingredients are added. It is a faith prevailing in some places that the house which is decorated with the picture of a cow eating modaka is believed to have no influence of an evil spirit called Duḥsaha.[13] Pāyasa is prepared by rice which is boiled in milk with added sugar. When the rice is boiled and get soft then the pāyasa is ready, eating pāyasa, in an unhallowed manner is considered as a sinful act and the eyes of those sinners are said to be torn out by Gama’s servani.[14] For satisfying the manes for one year it is recommended.[15] When it is mixed with honey and butter, it is called as being desired by the manes.[16]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid., 15.7,8; 46.69
[2]:
Ibid., 15.20,22
[3]:
Ibid., 15.21
[4]:
Ibid., 15.7-8
[5]:
Ibid., 15.22
[6]:
Ibid., 15.23
[7]:
Ṛgveda, 7.57.1
[8]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 29.7
[9]:
Ibid., 18.14
[10]:
Ibid., 62.2
[11]:
Ibid., 80.37
[12]:
Ibid., 31.95
[13]:
F.E.Pargiter, Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, p.165
[14]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 14.62 b
[15]:
Ibid., 29.6
[16]:
Ibid., 29.36