Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates 鈥楧ivisions of Ashrama (c): Vanaprastha鈥� 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.
Divisions of 膧艣rama (c): 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑补
After the 骋腻谤丑补蝉迟丑测腻艣谤补尘补 the next stage is the 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑补-腻艣谤补尘补 which indicates retirement from the 骋腻谤丑补蝉迟丑测腻艣谤补尘补 and entering in the forest life with wild fruits.[1] This is the sheltered life in the forest and is a stage preparatory to the final stage of renunciation. In this stage one has to withdraw himself gradually from the source of pleasures of the world being free from family responsibilities. At this stage his lifestyle changes. He takes leaves, roots and fruits as his food. He sleeps on the ground, he uses skin and 办耻艣补 grass for clothing. He has to bath thrice a day and to worship the Gods and gustes.[2] Who, obeying the aforesaid rules, spent the Vanaprasth腻艣谤补尘补 life, he, like Agni, burns all the bad elements.[3] The 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑补 stage is believed to be a period of purification of sin which is beneficial to the soul.[4] In this period the 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑颈苍蝉 live in the forest and strictly perform penances and sleep on the ground. They keep themselves busy in many works, viz. sacred study, ceremonies for the 辫颈迟峁泂, Gods and guests, the homa oblation and the three daily ablutions. They wear matted hair and dress up in a dark dress and use forest unguents.[5]
The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 also presents some examples of kings who, with the accompany of their wives, led the life of forest hermit and practised austerities. They are 峁歵补诲丑惫补箩补[6] , Khanitra[7] , Karandhama[8] and 狈补谤颈峁补苍迟补[9]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈, 6.5; 驰补箩帽补惫补濒办测补蝉尘峁泃颈, 3.46; 叠谤补丑尘补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 11.18.1; 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 腻艣谤补尘补v膩cikaparva, 5.21-22; 艣腻苍迟颈辫补谤惫补,313.18; 痴颈峁ａ箛耻辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 2.9.18; 础驳苍颈辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 64.4; 础产丑颈箩帽腻苍补艣补办耻苍迟补濒补尘, 4.20; 骋补耻迟补尘补诲丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补, 3.27
[2]:
叠谤补丑尘补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 222.39-43; 痴颈峁ａ箛辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 3.9.22; 笔补诲尘补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 1.58; 碍奴谤尘补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 2.43; 础驳苍颈辫耻谤腻峁嘺,160.1-5; 厂办补苍诲补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 4.1.36
[3]:
yastvet膩 niyata艣caryy膩 v膩naprastha艣carenmuni岣� /
sa dahatyagnivaddo峁Ｄ乶jayellok膩峁兣沜a 艣膩艣vat膩n // 叠谤补丑尘补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 222.44
[4]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 25.27
[5]:
Ibid., 25.25-26
[6]:
Ibid., 33.3
[7]:
Ibid., 115.10
[8]:
Ibid., 125.33
[9]:
Ibid., 131.7-8