Essay name: Brahma Purana (critical study)
Author:
Surabhi H. Trivedi
Affiliation: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda / Department of Sanskrit Pali and Prakrit
This is an English study of the Brahmapurana鈥攐ne of the eighteen major Puranas which occupies an important place in the Pauranic literature. This study researches the rich an encyclopaedic material for social, religious, philosophical, mythological, political, geographical and literary study found in the Brahma-Purana.
Marriage, Family and Position of Women
39 (of 99)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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334
Svaha and they were married to Samkalpa and Dharma respectively,
but they did not observe any rule of conjugal chastity and
dallied with the persons of their own choice. Hence they were
This pronouncement of the curse suggests that sexual
cursed.
freedom was not approved of (128.26-37).
(8) Brahma and his daughter
Incest on one's sister is referred to in connection
with the vedic gods. Like Surya too, Pusan is the wooer of
his mother and lover of his sister.
committed incest on his daughter.
69 Prajapati is said to have
The Br. P. also states that
after creating a beautiful maiden, Brahma got mad after her and
the maiden being afraid he and took the form of a female deer.
In order to preserve righteousness, lord Siva took the form of
a hunter and threatened to kill Brahma whereupon he refrained
from following her (A.102). An earlier version of this occurs
70 in the Ait. Br. The incest of Brahma with his daughter is
also referred to in the Mat. P. (3.31 ff. 4.1 ff.).
(9) Anjana, Adrika and Vayu, Nairrti
69 70
Anjana and Adrika, the wives of the monkey Kesari had
Keith A.B.: The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and
Upanisads, HCS, 31, P.107.
Ait.Br. 3.33, Sat.Br. 1.7.4.1.ff; Vide also Macdonell A.B.:
Vedic Mythology, P.119.This episode is beautifully summarised
in the following sloka of the Mahimna Stotra:
Prajanatham Natha
gatam
Prasathamadhikam
svam dunitaram
riramayisumrsjasja vapusa I
Rohid bhutam
Dhanus paneryatum
dinamapi Sapatrakrtamamum
trasanta
te'dyapi
tyasati
mr gavyadharabhas a 11
