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Markandeya Purana (Study)

by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words

This page relates ‘Position of Women (Introduction)� 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.

Position of Women (Introduction)

Women play a very important and significant role in society as the progress of the society depends upon the progress of the woman also. In the previous sub-chapters, marriage system, family structure etc.some of the important duties of women has been discussed. Here in this section some other aspects like quality, behaviour of women etc. will be discussed. As stated in the 岵ٲܰṇa without a woman or a wife, a house becomes like a chariot without some essential parts.[1] In the ղٳپīⲹ󳾲ṇa, a wife has been called the other half of her husband.[2] Since the very ancient times, it is a general rule for women that women should be protected. On the other hand, killing women is described as a sin. In this context Manu says-that person deserves punishment who kills a woman, a Brahmana or an infant.[3]

In the 첹ṇḍⲹܰṇa also it is stated that those person go to hell, who kill woman or an infant and also break the trust of other.[4] Besides the murder of a guru, killing of a Brahmana, cattle and woman is considered to be equal great sin.[5] The discussion under the following headings will reflect the position of women in the 첹ṇḍⲹܰṇa.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

yadi na ṛh 貹ٲī vā patidevatā /
ⲹṅg ratha iva ñ� ko nāmāsīt dinavat // 岵ٲܰṇa, 4.26.15

[2]:

ardho ha vā eṣa ātmano yat貹ٲī / ղٳپīⲹ󳾲ṇa, 3.3.3.5

[3]:

ѲԳܲṛt, 9.232

[4]:

첹ṇḍⲹܰṇa, 2.19

[5]:

bhajanta� bhaktamatyājyamaduṣṭa� tyajata� sukham /
neha nāmutra paśyāmi tasyamācchakra 徱� vraja // Ibid., 8.261

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