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The Markandeya Purana: Contents





Shri Brahma said:

1. О sage, henceforth, I shall narrate the Purana named Markandeya.1 It is highly meritorious to those who read and listen to it.

2. All the Dharmas have been reviewed therein with reference to the wise birds (in the Vindhya mountains)2. Markandeya Purana is said to contain nine thousand verses.3

The correct reading should beIfd Рйгтта; it will mean “Full-moon day of Awina (Scpteinber-October).

1. This Purana is available in two editions — B.I. (Bibliotheca Indica series) and Verikatesvar Press. Both the editions, however, differ in the total number of chapters (viz. 137 and 134) and number of verses in many chapters. This Purana is noted for the Devi Mahatmya or the famous Saptaiati which, though an interpolation, must have taken place long before 1000 A.D., as verses from the SaptaSati arc quoted in the Dadhimati Mata Inscription (in former Jodhpur state dated 289 of the Gupta era (608 A.D.) vide Epi. Ind. XI. 299-303. This Purana is assigned a date between 400-600 A.D. (Kane HD. V: 11. 903)

2. VV 2-3. This refers to the introductory part (chs 1-7) of the Mk. P. in which Markandeya directs Jaimini to approach the wise birds in Vindhya mountain to get answers for his Mahabharara problems (about the Mahabha- rata story such as the reason of Nirguna Vasudeva’s assumption of human form, Balarama’s token expiation for a Brahmana-slaughter etc.) I wonder why Jaimini, a direct disciple of Vyasa, the author of the Mbh., approached Markandeya for problems about the Mbh and not to Vyasa himself. The wise birds called Dharmas explain his difficulties.

3. According to the NP.. Vayu, Matsya, Agni and Bh.P the Markandeya P. consists of 9000 verses but the Venkatesvar edition gives only 6447 verses (PJ. VIII.2. (349). It is possible that when NP. was finally redacted, the stories of Rama, PurQravas, Nahusa, Krishna etc. must have been in the then MSS of Mk. P., but they came to be deleted later and the printed editions of the Mk.P. do not include them. Hence the deficiency in the number of verses.

1. The combat fought between Adi (anacquatic bird) and a crane into which Vasistha and Visvamitra had been transformed respectively due to curses given by them to each other due to the harsh treatment given by Visvamitra to King Hariscandra. God Brahma intervened and stopped this duel.

2. Gf. Bh. P. 1.3,52 where Dattatreya, the 6th incarnation of Vishnu explained Anvtkfiki to Alarka and Prahlada.

3. At the outset, the question of sage Markamjeya to Jaimini is mentioned. Thereafter, the nativity of birds designated Dharma is recounted.

4. The story of their previous birth; the aberration of Divaspati (Lord of Heaven); the pilgrimage of Bala, the narrative of the sons of Draupadl.

5. The holy story of HariScandra; the battle named Adlbaka;1 the narrative of the father and son (viz. Mahamati and Sumati), then the story of Dattatreya.2

6. Then the story of Haihaya alongwith the great narrative, (the story of Kuvalayasva?) then the story of Madalasa is mentioned alongwith the story of Alarka.

7. The holy glorification of the creation is made in nine ways; the end of the period of Kalpa is pointed out, the review of the creation of the Yaksas.

8. The creation by Rudra and others is mentioned; the activities in the continents have been mentioned; the stories of the Manus, diverse and destructive of sins, have been mentioned.

9. Among those stories, the story of Durga is exceedingly meritorious, in the eighth Manvantara. Thereafter, the origin of Pranava hailing from the brilliance of the three Vedas.

10. The narration of the nativity of Martantja alongwith its greatness; the race of Vaivasvata; then the story of Vatsaprl.

11. Then the holy story of the noble-sou Jed Khanitra is mentioned; the story of Aviksit and the glorification of “Kimiccha” Vrata1 (the vowed observance called “What do you wish?”)

12. The story of Narisyanta, then the story of Iksvaku, thereafter, the story of Nala, and then the excelleAt story of Ramacandra.

13. The narration of the line of Kusa; the description of the lunar race; the holy story of Puriiravas and the wonderful story of Nahusa.

14. The holy story of Yayati, the enumeration of the scions of the family of Yadu; the story of infant Krishna and then the story of his life at Mathura.

15. The story of his life at Dvaraka, the stories of all incarnations. Then the description of the Sankhya philosophy, the glorification of Sattva quality in the world.

16-18. Then the story of Markandeya; the benefit of listening to the Parana. The man who listens to this Purana called Markandeya with great devotion and respect, О dear one, attains the greatest goal. He who writes a gloss on this, attains the region of Shiva; lie who writes the whole Purana and gives it to an excellent Brahmana on the full moon day in the month of Karttika alongwith the replica of an elephant in gold, attains the region of Brahma. He who narrates or listens to this index (of topics in this Purana) shall attain the benefit desired as in the case of the whole Markandeya Purana.

1. Kimiccha Vrata is given in the MkP. 122 8,17,20. Atithi is asked what he wants and it is supplied to him. Aviksit^ the son of Karandhama carried this vrata of his mother and piochimed: “O beggars (nrthinah), I have solemnly resolved to give you whatever you wish”.

kimicchalha dadarnyefa kriyamdne Kimicchike — Mk. P, 122.20

 

CHAPTER NINETYNINE

The Agni Purana: Contents

Shri Brahma said:

1. Henceforth, I shall describe to you the Agni Purana. The Fire-god recounted the events of Isana Kalpa1 to Vasistha.

2. It comprises fifteen thousand2 verses of various wonderful stories. It dispels all the sins of men who listen to this.

3. At the outset is the enquiry about the Purana, then the story of all incarnations, then the chapter on the Creation and then the (mode of) worship of Vishnu and other things.3

1. This Purana is an encyclopaedia of the mediaeval India as stated by it: Agneye hi purdne'smin sarva vidyah pradarHtah

AP. 383.52

Although the JVP is supported by the Mt P. and Sk.P. in connecting the events in the AP to Uana Kalpa, the extant AP does not mention that Kalpa or that the incidents therein belong to that Kalpa. This is quite natural, as Hazra points out that the genuine Agneya Purana was forced to travel to the south and came to be known as the Vahni Purana and is awaiting publication. Hazra states that it is considerably free from the influence of Tanlrism while the extant AP is a spurious Agneya Purana written under the influence of Tantrism in the 9th cent. A.D. He states that the extant Agni Purana is different from the AP which was before the writer of the NP. The Sk. P. states that glorification of the Agni is the aim of the AP but that is not found in the present text of the AP. Moreover, a number of veiscs said to be quotations from the AP in Ballalasena’s Danasagara are not traced in the present text of the AP.

Hence, it is held that the published text of the AP is different from the text available to the writer of the NP (vide Hazra: Present Agni Purana'

— IHO.Xll 683-691, Our Heritage’ Vol. l.u 209. 45).

2. The NP. is supported by the Bh. P, and Br. Vaivarta in claiming 15000 verses to theAP. The AP also calls itself to be Paikadafa-sahasram (382.64). The statements that it contains 16000 verses (the Vdyu, Mt.P Sk.P) shows that those Puranas iefer to a different version The Anandas'rama edition has 11,457 verses. But Hazra has shown that the Anandasrama edition is not the original Pmrdna but a late compilation, the original Agneya or Vahni Purana is unpublished (Hazra — ‘‘Discovery of genuine Agneya Purana, Journal, Oriental Institute Baroda V. pp.411-416.

3. V V 3-22 give the list of various topics described in the AP. As the Vahni Purana is not available in print, nothing can be said about the con­tents of that genuine AP. But a comparison of the topics mentioned in these verses with those in the extant AP (GMj-edition) shows in majority of the topics mentioned in the NP are found in the extant AP.

4. Then the rites of fire worship, thereafter, the characteristics of the Mantras and Mudras (gestures), etc., the injunctions regarding all initiations; the review of the procedure of ablutions.

5. The characteristics of МагцЫа (mystic diagram) etc., then the rite of Marjana (wiping off) with the water from Kusa grass; the injunction regarding the wearing of the Pavitra (Kusa grass with a loop and a tail worn like a ring), and then the instructions regarding the temples.

6-7. Then the worship of Salagrama etc., the separate signs and symbols of the Murtis, the injunctions regarding the Nyasa rites, the worship of Vinayaka etc. alongwith their Pratistha (installation), thereafter the rules regarding initiation of diverse kinds; the installation of all deities and the review of the Cosmic egg.

8. The greatness of the Ganga and other holy rivers, the description of the continents and the sub-continents, the arrangement of the upper and the lower worlds, the review of Jyotiscakra (the circle of the luminaries.)

9. Jyotisa (Astrology and Astronomy) is then described and then the scripture “Yuddhajayarnava” (Ocean of the conquests in battles), then the six holy rites are narrated and also the collections of Mantras and medicinal herbs to be used with Mantras.

10. The rites of worshipping Kubjika (an unmarried girl of eight years) etc., then the six types of Nyasa rites, then the injunction regarding “kotihoma” (a crore of Homas), the review of the Manvantaras.

11. The pious rites of Brahmacarya (vow of celibacy) etc., then the rules regarding the rituals of Sraddha, then Graha- yajfia (the sacrifice for the planets) is mentioned, then the various holy rites laid down in the Vedas and the Smrtis.

12. The narration of expiatory rites, the Vratas etc. to be performed on the various Tithis, days of the week and the constellations.

13. The guidance regarding monthly Vratas, the rules regarding the charitable gifts of lamps, the worship of the Navavyuhas (the nine manifestations) and the review of hells.

14. The review of Vratas (sacred vowed observances) and charitable gifts, the direction regarding Nadi Gakra (circle of nerves) and the excellent rules regarding the Sandhya prayers.

15. The stipulation regarding the meaning of the Gayatrl, then the hymn unto the Linga, the specification of the Mantras for the coronation of kings; the righteous duties (and activities) of kings.

16. Then the chapter on dreams is mentioned, the review of omens, etc., the specification regarding Mandala (mystic diagram) etc., then the rules regarding ‘Ratna Diksa

17. The guidance in polity mentioned by Rama, then the characteristics of Ratnas (jewels), then the science of archery is described, then the method of dealing is revealed.

18. The narrative of the conflict between the Devas and the Asuras, the review of Ayurveda (Medical Science), the Veterinary science (e. g. the treatment of elephants etc., and their pacification).

19. The treatment of cows, diagnosis and treatment of men, etc., then the different kinds of Pujas; different kinds of Santis (pacificatory rites); then the science of prosody.

20. Then literature (literary criticism) and the (lexicon of) single-syllabled norms, thereafter, the enumeration of the formation of words, then lexicon according to the different groups and formations.

21. The characteristics of dissolutions; the review of the Sariraka (limbs of the body in AP. ch. 370), description of hells, then the Yoga system of Philosophy.

22. Thereafter, the knowledge of the Brahman, the benefit of listening to the Purana, О Brahmana, this is mentioned as the Agni Purana.

23-25. He who writes this and gives it to a person who knows the meanings of the Purana, on the full moon day in the month of Margashir?a in accordance with the injunctions, alongwith a gold lotus and a replica of a cow in gingelly seeds, is honoured in the heavenly world. This index of topics in the Agni Purana narrated to you is the bestower of salvation unto the men who read and listen to this. It benefits them both here and hereafter.

 

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