The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Superstitions Related to Women’ 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.
Superstitions Related to Women
Parivarta—
The evil spirit Parivrata by name, always inter changes the foetus from one womb to the other womb. Also the words in the mouth of a speaker. A person can fight against Parivarta by using white mustard and the spells that destroy the Rākṣas as (Rakṣoghna mantra).[1]
Virūpa and Vikṛta—
These two evil spirits [Virūpa and Vikṛta] who inhabit in the tops of trees, mountains, ditches, ramparts and sea and interchange the foetus from one pregnant woman to another. This purāṇa advised that a pregnant woman should not visit a tree, a mountain, a rampat, a ditch and the sea.[2]
Six Sons of Gaṇḍaprāntarati—
The six sons of Gaṇḍaprāntarati are identified as evil spirits of woman. All are supposed to dwell in women's menses or periods. One should take possession of the first four day after menstruation and the thirteenth day. Also powerful on the eleventh day, at dawn, tow others on occasions of śrāddhas and alms giving, at festivals. A man should avoid sexual intercourse on these particular days.[3]
Garbhahan—
This word [garbhahan] means the foetus-destroyer.[4] This evil spirit destroys the foetus of the pregnant ladies. For the remedy the woman should always remain secure and take protection against this evil spirit. For this woman should take constant personal purification, to write out famous spells, wear auspicious garlands and other decorations, dwell in well cleaned house and should abstain from over exertion.[5]
Nighna and Mohanī—
The word nighna means slayer and mohanī means beguiler.[6] Nighna enters with in the womb and eats foetus of a pregnant woman. Then Mohanī beguiles it as a result of which the offspring born at a later stage as snakes, frogs, tortoise and reptiles or as ordure. Nighna enters into pregnant woman within some particular situations. Such as-at the six months pregnant woman who in waywardness eats flesh, who seeks the shade of trees by night, who stay at a place where three or four roads meet, who stands in a burning ground or cemetary or any place pervaded by strong smells, who leaves off her upper cloths and who weeps at mid-night.[7]
Ṛtuhārikā—
Ṛtuhārikā is an evil spirit directly connected with a woman after puberty. The word Ṛtuhārikā means the stealer of the menses.[8] This demon spirit rob the monthly courses or periods of women when they have begun and before they have begun. For the remedy one should have to bathe at the place of pilgrimage, at temples, besides sacred public objects, on mountain tops, at river confluence, in excavated places etc.[9]
Kucaharā—
The word kucaharā means the breasts stealer.[10] This evil spirit deprives the maiden of their breasts. Kucaharā robs the breast of the maiden whose marriage rite is not performed duly or marriage rite is performed after the prescribed proper time.[11]
Vyañjanahārika—
The word vyañjanahārika refers to one who steals the signs of puberty.[12] This evil spirit snatches puberty of married women, if she gets married without duly offering śrāddha ceremony and without paying debts she owes to her mother or without worshipping her mother.[13]
Smṛtiharā—
The word Smṛtiharā means stealer of the memory.[14] This evil spirit deprives the memory of women. It can be overcome by staying separately or alone.[15]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid., 48.13 cd-15 ab; Ṛgveda, 4.4.4-5; Atharvaveda, 1.28; 5.29; Taittirīyasaṃhitā, 1.2.14.1-2
[2]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 48.63 b-66 a
[3]:
ṣaḍapatyāni kathyante gaṇḍaprāntaratestathā //
strīnāṃ rajasyavasthānaṃ tesāṃ kālaś ca me śruṇu /
catvaryahāni pūrvāṇi tathaivanyat trayodaśam //
ekadeśṃ tathaivānyadapatyaṃ tasya vai dine /
anyaddinābhigamane śrāddhadāne tathāpare //
parvasvathānyat tasmāttu varjyānyetāni paṇḍitaiḥ / Ibid., 48.74 b-77 a
[4]:
F. E. Pargiter, The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, p. 223
[5]:
[6]:
F. E. Pargiter, The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, p. 227
[7]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 48.77 b-81 a
[8]:
F. E. Pargiter, The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, p. 224
[9]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 48.42-44
[10]:
F. E. Pargiter, The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, p. 229
[11]:
[12]:
F. E. Pargiter, The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, p. 229
[13]:
[14]:
F. E. Pargiter, The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, p. 225