Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates 鈥楧escription Devi鈥檚 Function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.
7. Description Devi鈥檚 Function
The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 describes various functions of 顿别惫墨-尘补丑腻尘腻测腻 very beautifully and briefly. In the 顿别惫墨-mah膩tmy膩 section, 顿别惫墨 occupies a unique place. She is described as having her hands, feet, eyes, head, mouth, ears and nose.[1] She is also described as 础办丑颈濒腻迟尘补办腻 (78.63), 闯补驳补苍尘补测墨 (78.57), 闯补驳补尘奴谤迟颈 (78.47), 痴颈艣惫腻迟尘颈办腻 (88.33) etc. Whenever the gods become disturbed by the evil demons, then gods worship her and she would incarnate in the various forms and destroy the demons.
There are some epithets which refer to her various weapons. Such as鈥�
Her work and function show clearly how she preserves the world and destroys the evil demons in her various forms. The table below lists out the different avat膩rs of 顿别惫墨 slaying demons as a result of prayers offered by different gods.
| 顿别惫墨鈥檚 forms | Prayers by god | Slain of Demon |
| 痴颈峁ａ箛耻鈥檚 驰辞驳补苍颈诲谤腻 | 叠谤补丑尘腻 Madhu | Kaitabha |
| 础尘产颈办腻 | Indra and other gods | 惭补丑颈峁Ｄ乻耻谤补 |
| 碍补耻艣颈办墨 | Indra and other gods | 顿丑奴尘谤补濒辞肠补苍补 |
| 碍补濒墨 or 颁腻尘耻峁囜笉腻 | Indra and other gods | 颁补峁囜笉补, 惭耻峁囜笉补 |
| 颁补峁囜笉颈办补 艣补办迟颈 | Indra and other gods | 搁补办迟补产墨箩补 |
| 颁补峁囜笉颈办补 艣补办迟颈 | Indra and other gods | 狈颈艣耻尘产丑补 |
| 颁补峁囜笉颈办补 艣补办迟颈 | Indra and other gods | 艢耻尘产丑补 |
This list clearly shows how 顿别惫墨mah膩m膩ya destroyed the evil demons and saved the gods in the universe. In the various stories included in this portion of the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 顿别惫墨 is shown to incarnate in her real forms and to show her own power. She promised that whenever the demons would create trouble she would destroy the demons and would save the gods.[3] When she is invoked, she bestows knowledge and when gratified, she bestows prosperity.[4] She acquires the epithets like Muktihetu (81.9), 叠丑耻办迟颈尘耻办迟颈辫谤补诲腻测颈苍墨 (88.6), 厂惫补谤驳腻辫补惫补谤驳补诲腻 (88.7), 叠丑辞驳补蝉惫补谤驳腻辫补惫补谤驳补诲腻 (90.3) etc. as she bestows enjoyment, heaven, final emancipation to her devotees. Further, she bestows riches, fame, devoted children, wife and servants. Also when one remembers her with devoted mind and heart, she bestows an extremely bright mind and removes poverty, pain and fear. She accomplishes every petition and provides refuge.[5] She is also said to be the supreme way for the salvation of those who seek refuge of the woe-begone and of the afflicted.[6] Elsewhere when she becomes propitious, she destroys all sickness from men but, when she becomes wrathful, she destroys all desires.[7]
Like the other important gods of Hindu society, the goddess 惭补丑腻尘腻测补 has also various names and epithets according to her function, nature, form, worship, myths, future incarnation etc. It is also mentioned that all 惫颈诲测腻蝉 are her portions. So, that the whole world has been filled by her.[8] Hence, she is called as-惭补丑腻尘辞丑腻 (78.58), 惭补丑腻惫颈诲测腻 (78.58; 88.21), 笔补谤补尘腻 惫颈诲测腻 (81.9) etc. She has certain ritualistic attributes, viz. 厂惫补诲丑腻 (78.54;81.8;88.21), 厂惫腻丑腻 (78.54;81.8), Vasa峁璳膩r膩 (78.54). She is also called, Svar膩tmika, 厂耻诲丑腻, Tridh膩m膩tr膩tmik膩 (78.54), Anucc膩ry膩 (78.55), 艢abd膩tmik膩, 罢谤补测墨 (81.10). Moreover, 顿别惫墨, the repository of 峁歬, Yajus and 厂腻尘补苍 hymns is considered as responsible for the existence and production of all the universe.[9]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
sarvata岣� p膩峁噄p膩d膩nte sarvatok峁艣romukhe /
蝉补谤惫补迟补岣ヅ况补惫补峁嘺驳谤腻峁噀 苍腻谤腻测补峁噄 namo鈥檚tute // 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 88.23
[2]:
Ibid., 78.61
[3]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 88.51
[4]:
Ibid., 89.34
[6]:
Ibid., 88.11
[7]:
Ibid., 88.29
[8]: