The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Worship of Shiva’ 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.
Worship of Śiva
In the 16th chapter of this Purāṇa, it has been mentioned that Śiva took his birth in the incarnation of Durvāsas and this can also be found if we refer to the heading of Dattatreya’s birth. Among the Hindu deities, lord Śiva holds the second place. He is known as the destroyer of the world. The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa mentions some name and epithets of lord Śiva.
Lord Śiva is also known by some common names, such as—
There are another names and epithets found in this purāṇa. Such as—
- Nīea-lohita [Nīlalohita?] (1.44; 49.3),
- Iśāna (4.41),
- Sūlapāṇi (8.4),
- Anaṅgāṅgahara (21.61),
- Vṛṣadhvaja (21.63; 53.10),
- Mahādeva,
- Śītikaṇṭha,
- Umābati (21.64),
- Devadeva,
- Trilocana (21.65),
- Śaṃbhu (43.8; 79.8),
- Rudra (47.6),
- Maheśvara (48.57),
- Bhava,
- Bhīma,
- Paśupati,
- Śarva,
- Ugra (49.7),
- Śaṅkara (79.9),
- Pinākabhṛt (79.20),
- Dhūmra-jaṭila (85.23),
- Śiva (85.27),
- Bhūteśa (96.67),
- Aja (102.36).
Lord Brahmā gave him eight names, viz. Sarva, Bhava, Śiva, Paśupati, Iśāna, Ugra and Mahādeva etc.[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 49.7; Vāyupurāṇa, 1.27; 4.16; Viṣṇupurāṇa, 1.8.6; Śatapathabrāhmaṇa, 6.1.3.7-18; Kauṣītakibrāhmaṇa, 6.1-9