Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates 鈥楾ypes of Ornaments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.
Types of Ornaments
From the Vedic times, various types of ornaments are used for enhancing look and appearance. The uses of ornaments are mentioned in almost all the puranic stories. On certain occasions, ornaments are used as gifts for the Brahmns. In the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, at the time of birth of a grandson[1] and at the time of performance of a sacrifice[2] etc., ornaments are used as a gift. The father in law of king Dama, gave him various gifts along with ornaments in his marriage ceremony.[3] The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 mentions a general reference of female ornaments in connection with princess Vai艣膩lini who is said to have been 鈥渁dorned with all the ornaments鈥�.[4] A necklace of pearls[5], a golden ring[6] are also mentioned here in this 辫耻谤腻峁嘺.
Some other terms are used to signify ornaments. For example, [the following are used in different contexts]:
Various types of ornaments are mentioned here without detailed explanation. Name of the ornaments found in 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 with the reference to their context are discussed below.
颁奴岣嵞乵补峁噄鈥�
This means crest-jewel. According to 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 颁奴岣嵞乵补峁噄 is the best among the ornaments.[10] This ornament is mentioned in the context of the story of king 峁歵补诲丑惫补箩补[11] and is in the 顿别惫墨 story where the milk ocean gave a divine c奴岣嵞乵ani to the 顿别惫墨.[12]
Valaya鈥�
Valaya means a bracelet, armlet. It is said to produce a twinkling sound. In the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 and also it mentioned in connection with an Apsaras Vapu by name.[13] The Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺 said it was used by both men and women.[14]
艢谤辞峁噄蝉奴迟谤补鈥�
艢谤辞峁噄蝉奴迟谤补 means waist-band. It is an ornament used round the waist in connection with king 贬补谤颈艣肠补苍诲谤补.[15]
狈耻辫奴谤补鈥�
It means anklets. This ornament is worn in the leg. In the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, the Apsarases are found to use the anklets.[16] Here a reference of giving a pair of anklets to 顿别惫墨 by milkocean is also found.[17] According to Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 狈耻辫奴谤补 was used by both men and women on their feet .[18] The use of 苍耻辫奴谤补, made of gold, is also mentioned there.[19]
碍耻峁囜笉补濒补鈥�
碍耻峁囜笉补濒补 means ear rings. This ornament is used for the ear, which is also called 办补谤峁嘺-艣辞产丑补苍补. Describing the 狈腻驳补-maidens of 笔腻迟补濒补 the author of the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, mentions about this ornament worn by the maidens.[20] This 辫耻谤腻峁嘺 also refers about 尘补峁噄-办耻峁囜笉补濒补.[21] In the Vay奴辫耻谤腻峁嘺 搁腻办峁蝉补蝉 we also found to use it.[22]
础峁単耻濒墨测补办补鈥�
础峁単耻濒墨测补办补 means ring. Almost all the married people are found wearing it. In the 础产丑颈箩帽腻艣补办耻苍迟补濒补尘, the ring which was given to 艢补办耻苍迟补濒腻 by king 顿耻峁补苍迟补 plays a great role in the drama. In the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, it is stated that the milk ocean gave to the 顿别惫墨 rings and gems on all her fingers.[23] Reference of 补峁単耻濒墨测补办补 is also found in the Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺.[24]
Graiveyaka鈥�
It signifies gv墨v膩y膩峁� haddhola峁僰膩ra岣� i.e. neck ornaments. In the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, the milk ocean gave a graiveyaka to 顿别惫墨.[25]
贬腻谤补鈥�
贬腻谤补 means necklace. In the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, the milk ocean gave to devi a serpent necklace adorned with large gems.[26] In the Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺, there are references of using this ornament by both men and women .[27] Also in the V膩yu辫耻谤腻峁嘺 the 艢奴谤补蝉 are called 丑腻谤补办腻岣�.[28]
碍补峁璦办补鈥�
碍补峁璦办补 means bracelet. As quoted in the 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, the 办补峁璦办补蝉 are one kind of ala峁僰膩as which are given to 顿别惫墨 by the milk ocean.[29]
碍别测奴谤补鈥�
碍别测奴谤补 means armlet, a kind of ornament which is worn in the upper arm. The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, in the episode of 碍耻惫补濒补测腻艣惫补 and 顿别惫墨-m膩h膩tmya mentions about this ornament.[30] In the Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺, lord 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 is found to put it on.[31] In the V膩yu辫耻谤腻峁嘺, Lord 艢颈惫补 is also found to use it.[32]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 125.10
[2]:
Ibid., 129.20
[3]:
Ibid., 130.03
[4]:
蝉补谤惫腻濒补峁僰腻谤补产丑奴峁迟腻尘/ Ibid., 123.10,46
[5]:
Ibid., 21.104
[6]:
Ibid., 33.9
[7]:
Ibid., 66.11
[8]:
Ibid., 123.10
[9]:
Ibid., 1.4
[10]:
Ibid., 1.4
[11]:
Ibid., 22.13
[12]:
Ibid., 79.25
[13]:
Ibid., 1.54
[14]:
Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 6.4.38; 8.6.6; 10.60.8
[15]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 7.34
[16]:
Ibid., 10.94
[17]:
Ibid., 79.26
[18]:
Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 6.4.38; 8.6.6; 10.39.51; 10.60.8; 11.30.31
[19]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 8.9.17
[20]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 21.100; 79.25
[21]:
Ibid., 21.103
[22]:
Vay奴辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 70.62
[23]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 79.29
[24]:
Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 10.11.32; 10.12.1
[25]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 79.30
[26]:
Ibid., 79.30
[27]:
Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 8.6.6; 10.39.51; 10.75.24; 11.30.31
[28]:
V膩yu辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 69.183
[29]:
k峁Ｄ玶oda艣c膩mala峁� h膩ramajare ca 迟补迟丑腻mbare /
肠奴岣嵞乵补峁噄峁� 迟补迟丑腻 divya ku峁囜笉ale ka峁璦k膩ni ca / 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 79.25
[30]:
Ibid. , 21.104; 79.26
[31]:
Bh膩gavata辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 8.6.5
[32]:
V膩yu辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 24.153