Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates 鈥楽uperstitions Related to House-holders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.
Superstitions Related to House-holders
痴颈箩补濒辫腻
痴颈箩补濒辫腻 i.e. chatterer is an evil minded spirit. This spirit indulges in contemptuous, false and corrupt talk. She can be conquered and controlled by the house-holder by pondering on her and preserving his self control.[1]
碍补濒补丑腻
The word kalaha means quarrel or fight. So 办补濒补丑腻 means quarreller or fighter. She is a dangerous evil spirit who causes destruction of many families creating quarrels or fights among the members. She can be vanquished by throwing blades of 诲耻谤产腻 grass smeared with honey, ghee and milk in the bali ceremony, offering a sacrifice to the fire and extolling one's friends, for averting evil spirit from all living beings.[2]
Tathokti
Another evil spirit is Tathokti meaning, let it be so!, who assigns both good and bad fortunes to the person. It is advised to speak good and auspicious things. The remedies against Tathokti are very peculiar. If anything bad is spoken then praise should be offered to Lord 艢颈惫补 and to 叠谤补丑尘腻 to the particular family deity of each family member as a protector.[3] Only one of the six sons of Tathokti鈥檚 named Kalijihva has been described in this 笔耻谤腻峁嘺.
Kalijihva
The meaning of the word is black tongued. This evil spirit resides in the palms. Kalijihva abides in person鈥檚 tongues and engages them in discussions.[4]
础峁単补诲丑峁沰
础峁単补诲丑峁沰 means the assailer of the body.[5] This evil spirit likes the wind and announces good and bad fortunes which are indicated by throbbing in a person's bodies. For the remedy against this evil spirit one should strike the side of the whole body with 办耻艣补 grass.[6]
笔颈艣耻尘补
This evil spirit [笔颈艣耻尘补] enters the marrow inside a person's bones and consumes the energy of even an invincible person.[7]
艢补办耻苍颈
艢补办耻苍颈 means a bird in general and an omen.[8] This evil spirit is stationed on a crow or some other bird, dog etc. and announces weal or woe. If it is an evil matter then there should be delay in the undertaking or its abandonment is required. In case of good matter it should be performed very speedily.[9]
艢测别苍补, 碍腻办补, Kapota, 骋峁沝丑谤补, 鲍濒奴办补
The birds like 艢测别苍补, 碍腻办补, Kapota, 骋峁沝丑谤补 and 鲍濒奴办补 i.e. Hawk, Crow, Pigeon, Vulture and owl respectively are said to be the five sons of 艢补办耻苍颈 which are identified as the evil spirits for a person. The gods and the demons took them opposed to be possessed by 惭峁泃测耻, Yama, 痴测腻诲丑颈 and 狈颈谤峁泃颈 accordingly. These five spirits are called as suras and asuras.[10] 艢测别苍补 is the symbol of death which attacks things suddenly. 碍腻办补 is called destiny because it is believed that crows live long. Kapota is connected with Yama or death. 骋峁沝丑谤补 is identified as the cause of sickness. 鲍濒奴办补 is the symbol of 狈颈谤峁泃颈 i.e. destruction and hell. All these evil things bring misery, even death. One should take effectual pacificatory measures for their own safety if 艢测别苍补 and others alight on one鈥檚 head. If these five spirits build their nest and give birth in a house, one should abandon the house and use pacificatory measures. It is also a case of ominous seeing a pigeon in sleep.[11]
骋补峁囜笉补辫谤腻苍迟补谤补迟颈
This evil spirit [骋补峁囜笉补辫谤腻苍迟补谤补迟颈] is stationed in the borders of the cheeks for half a 尘耻丑奴谤迟补 and consumes every undertaking, eulogium and sincerity. As a solution one should perform recitation by Brahmins, praise to the gods, ablutions with cow鈥檚 urine and mustard seed, worship of the constellations and planets and observance of righteousness.[12]
狈颈测辞箩颈办腻
The word 苍颈测辞箩颈办腻 means the inciter.[13] This evil spirit stimulates men to adultery or extra affair with wives of other men appropriating other men's goods. For the remedy against this evil spirit one should do recitation of purifying prayers and also he should abstain from anger, covetousness etc.[14]
笔谤补肠辞诲颈办腻岣�
The word 辫谤补肠辞诲颈办腻岣� [辫谤补肠辞诲颈办腻?] means instigator. These evil spirits always enter into intoxicated (尘补迟迟腻岣�), frantic (un尘补迟迟腻岣�) and wanton (pramatt膩) men and women and destroy them both. These evil spirits enter into a house at the twilights, the planets and where bali is not offered to 诲丑腻迟谤墨 and 惫颈诲丑腻迟谤颈 at the correct time. Again, these evil spirits attack suddenly upon men and women who eat or drink with drops of water clinging to them.[15]
痴颈谤辞诲丑颈苍墨
The word 惫颈谤辞诲丑颈苍墨 means the strife-maker.[16] The evil spirit by the name causes opposition between a loving married couple, among relatives, friends, parents and children and among fellow-caste-people. For this, one should take protection by offering the bali, by enduring fantastic language and observing the virtuous custom on this evil spirit.[17]
Codaka, Gr膩haka and Tama岣racch膩daka
The word codaka means instigator, 驳谤腻丑补办补 means seizer and tama岣racch膩daka means gloom enveloper. These evil spirits are impelled and display their activity.[18] Codaka dwells in men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tongues and utter falsehood as truth. He works calumny in the house. Gr膩haka dwells in the men鈥檚 ears and takes hold of people鈥檚 words. He is exceedingly evil-minded. Tama岣racch膩daka attacks men's minds and envelopes them with darkness and arouses anger.[19]
叠丑谤腻尘补峁噄
The evil spirit called 叠丑谤腻尘补峁嚹� produces perturbation in a man who dwells in one place. To keep apart from this evil spirit one should scatter white mustard on his seat, his bed and on the ground where he sits. Also he should mutter the 鈥�Bhuvas鈥�[20] hymn repeatedly with a composed mind.[21]
碍腻办补ja峁単ha
The word 办腻办补箩补峁単丑补 means crow-thigh. The evil demon by this name enters into the man who sings at the time of taking meal, sings to a friend and also sings and laughs at the same time and also who indulges in sexual intercourse during the twilight.[22]
笔谤补肠补峁囜笉补
The word 辫谤补肠补峁囜笉补 means impetuous. This evil spirit destroys the memory of men destitute of self-control inhabiting in empty abodes.[23]
叠墨箩补丑补谤腻
The word b墨jahar膩 means stealer of seed. 叠墨箩补丑补谤腻 robs both men and women of their seed. This evil spirit can be overcome by bathing and eating good and clean food.[24]
础谤奴辫补
The word 补谤奴辫补 means formless. 础谤奴辫补 deprives men of their seed. Also if a man and woman neglect personal cleanliness, lapses into sterility by the effect of this formless evil spirit.[25]
顿惫别峁峁嚹�
This evil spirit called Dve峁Ｄ乶i, meaning the hater,[26] causes terror among the people and creates hatred among the men and the women. This evil spirit is vanquished by offering oblation of sesamum seed moistened with honey, milk and ghee and by performing a sacrifice called 惭颈迟谤补惫颈苍诲腻 颈峁ａ弓颈.[27]
Apak膩ra and Prak膩艣aka
The word 补辫补办腻谤补 means injuries and 辫谤补办腻艣补办补 means divulger.[28] Apak膩ra plucks away one鈥檚 good qualities and the friendship that exists among the people and Prak膩艣aka divulges men鈥檚 peculiar qualities in the world. These two evil spirits come to a person who delights in calumny, inconstant, uses impure water and hates mankind. Also who is hated by mother, brother, beloved friends, kinsmen, strangers etc. perishes from righteousness or wealth.[29]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
Ibid., 48.52-61
[3]:
Ibid., 48.11-13 a
[4]:
tathokte岣� kalijihvobhut putrast膩laniketana岣� //
saye峁Ｄ佱箖 峁沘san膩sa峁僺tha岣� t膩nas膩dhun viv膩dayet / Ibid., 48.62 b-63 a
[5]:
F. E. Pargiter, The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, p. 222
[6]:
anya艣e膩nilavann峁涐箛膩ma峁単e峁 sphuranodilam //
subh膩sabha峁� sam膩ca峁ａ弓e kusaistas测腻峁単atadanam / 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 48.15 b-16 a
[7]:
[8]:
F. E. Pargiter, The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, p. 222
[9]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 48.16 b-18 a
[10]:
Ibid., 48.68 a
[11]:
Ibid., 48.67 b-74 a
[12]:
ga峁囜笉膩ntesu sthita艣c膩nyo muh奴rt膩rdha峁僤vijottama //
sarv膩rambh膩m kum膩rotti 艣补尘补峁� tasya ni艣膩maya /
viprokt测腻 devat膩stut测腻 m奴lotkh膩tena ca dvija //
gom奴trasar峁pasn膩naistadik峁grahap奴janai岣� /
pana艣cadharmopani峁tkara峁嘺i岣� 艣膩stradar艣anai岣� //
avaj帽a测腻 janmana艣ca pra艣补尘补峁� 测腻迟颈ga峁囜笉av膩n / Ibid., 48.18 b-21 a
[13]:
F. E. Pargiter, The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, p. 223
[14]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 48.25 b-28 a
[15]:
Ibid., 48.85 b-91 a
[16]:
F. E. Pargiter, The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, p. 223
[17]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 48.29 b-31 a
[18]:
Ibid., 48.92 b-95 a
[19]:
Ibid., 48.95 b-98 a
[20]:
峁欢惫别诲补, 1.15.1; Atharvaveda, 12.1
[21]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 48.39-41
[22]:
bhu帽jan yo g膩yate maitre g膩yate hasate 肠补测补岣� //
san dh测腻maithunina峁� caiva naram膩vi艣ati dvija / Ibid., 48.102 b-103 a
[23]:
Ibid., 48.111
[24]:
Ibid., 48.46-47
[25]:
[26]:
F. E. Pargiter, The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺,p. 229
[27]:
补峁ａ弓补尘墨 dve峁峁噄 苍腻尘补 办补苍测腻 lokabh膩测腻vah膩 /
测腻 karoti 箩补苍补诲惫颈峁ａ弓补峁� 苍补谤补峁� n膩ri峁僡th膩piv膩 //
madhuks墨ragh峁泃膩kt膩nstu 艣膩ntvartha峁� homayettilan /
kurvita 尘颈迟谤补惫颈苍诲腻峁� ca tathe峁ａ弓i峁僼at pra艣膩ntaye // 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 48.48-49
[28]:
F. E. Pargiter, The 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, p.230
[29]:
惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 48.119-123