The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Hair Style’ 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.
Hair Style
In one’s beauty, hair style is as important as ornaments which can complete the whole beauty of a face. From the early Vedic period mention about the hair style is found which is developing day by day till now.
The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa mentions black and curly hair both of male and female. For example, king Hariscandra’s son Rohitāsva had black, curly, equal, long and wavy hair.[1] Also king Ṛtadhvaja had black and curly hairs.[2] Mādalasa, wife of king Ṛtadhvaja, also is mentioned to have black hair. In this purāṇa, it is also mentioned that the Vānaprasthins were advised to wear matted (jaṭā) hairs.[3] Male and female both the ascetics used to wear matted hair.[4] There are other descriptions also found in Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa about the hair. For example, a demon called Vidyudrūpa had his crest covered with rings of garlands hair.[5] Rohītāsya also wore side-locks of hair.[6] King Hariścandra’s wife was mukta-kesī.[7] King Ketuvirya’s daughter Sūkeśī and one of the wives of king Marutta have[8] lovely hair.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 8.181
[2]:
Ibid., 19.20
[3]:
Ibid., 25.26
[4]:
Ibid., 125.35; 131,13
[5]:
Ibid., 2.13
[7]:
Ibid., 8.157
[8]:
Ibid., 128.46