The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘The Basic Features of the Yoga’ 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.
1. The Basic Features of the Yoga
In the 36th chapter of the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, the nature of Yoga has been discussed. Yoga is religious devotion which causes final emancipation from existence and unites someone with Brahman. While a Yogī becomes able to remove his ignorance by the possession of knowledge then he attains liberation or mukti. This is the union in other with Brahma and sense, it is the dissociation from the guṇas of Prakṛti.[1] A man desiring liberation should strenuously give up every association so that mamatva i.e. the feeling like ‘it is mine’ disappears from his mind. Freedom from selfishness causes happiness. The ultimate object of realisation is the attainment of Brahman hood.