Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘The Authorship of the Markandeya-purana� 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.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
1.9: The Authorship of the 첹ṇḍⲹ-ܰṇa
The authorship of the all the ʳܰṇa is a big controversy. The 첹ṇḍⲹ-ܰṇa is one of the eighteen Ѳܰṇa. There is also mystery about the authorship of this Mahāpuraṇa. It is said that, lord created only one ʳܰṇa at the beginning of the universe. That ʳܰṇa comprising one billion verses was very voluminous and tough for all people. Then Ѳṣi ձ岹 divided that ʳܰṇa into eighteen sections and all these eighteen sections became easier and very simple to understand for the common people. So Maharsi ձ岹 divided that ʳܰṇa with the sole idea of popularizing the knowledge and ancient discourse depicted in the ʳܰṇa. The total number of verses of eighteen ʳܰṇa is four lacs.[1] The Ѳٲⲹܰṇa also mentions that, ղ composed all the ʳܰṇa.[2] Sage 첹ṇḍⲹ is ascribed to be the author of the 첹ṇḍⲹpurāṇa. At the beginning of this ʳܰṇa, told about this ʳܰṇa to Ѳṣi ṛg. Then Ѳṣi ṛg told it to Cyavanamuni, Cyavana told it to ṣi, at last ṣi told it to ٲṣa ʰ貹پ. After that ٲṣa ʰ貹پ told it to Ѳṣi 첹ṇḍⲹ. Later on Ѳṣi 첹ṇḍⲹ narrated this ʳܰṇa to Jaimini and other sages. Then it was spread among the common people.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
B. B. Paliwal, Massage of the Puranas, p.14
[2]:
ṣṭ岹ś purāṇāni kṛtvā satyavatīsuta� /
bhāratākhyānamakhila� cakre tadupabṛṃhaṇa� // Ѳٲⲹܰṇa, 53.69
[3]:
B. B. Paliwal, Massage of the Puranas, p. 121