Essay name: Studies in the Upapuranas
Author: R. C. Hazra
This book studies the Upapuranas: a vast category of (often Sanskrit) literature representing significant historical, religious, and cultural insights of the ancient Indian civilization. These texts provide rich information, especially on Hinduism covering theology, mythology, rituals, and dynastic genealogies.
Page 332 of: Studies in the Upapuranas
332 (of 417)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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THE MINOR VAI峁⑨箚AVA UPAPUR膧峁咥S 315 Sm盲rta rites), said to have been made in accordance with the prescrip-
tions of Manu and others. (-Chaps. 22-28).
Description of the path of Yama (yama-m膩rga), which is said to
be very pleasant for the virtuous but extremely dangerous and painful
for the sinners. Nature of these pleasures and sufferings; and the
poius acts (such as gift of various things including betel leaves, service
to parents and others, reading of Pur膩峁嘺s, and so on) which cause the
pleasures. (-Chap. 29).
Account (in prose) of the course of rebirth of creatures, first as
stationary objects of nature (such as trees, creepers, mountains, etc.)
and then as worms, insects, beasts and human beings in succession.
Gradual rise in caste, profession, and physical and financial condition
of human beings in their successive births. Description of the course
of development of the f么etus in the mother's womb. Painful experi-
ences of a human being in the different stages of his life. (-Chap. 30).
yoga,
Ways of attaining final liberation.-Distinction of yoga into
Kriya-yoga and J帽盲na-yoga; detailed treatment of with the names
of thirty kinds of asanas (modes of sitting for the practice of yoga);
characteristics of persons to be regarded as sincerely desirous of final
liberation. (Chap. 31).
Praise of rendering devotional service to Vis峁噓 and his temples
untiringly by body and mind or even unintentionally on rare occasions.
(-Chaps. 32-37).
Names and extents of the four Yugas. Conduct of people in the
different Yugas, especially in Kali. Praise of reading or hearing the
B峁沨annaradiya-p. (-Chap. 38).
Besides the above contents the B峁沨annaradiya-p. has a number of
stories, which include the following.
Mrka峁囜笉u's practice of severe austerities at S膩lagr膩ma, and
M盲rkandeya's birth as his son and practice of the Bh膩gavata-dharma
at 艢膩lagr膩ma according to Visnu's instructions. (-Chaps. 4-5).
Birth of Sagara in Aurva's hermitage, after the Haihayas and the
T膩lajanghas had dethroned his proud and jealous father B膩hu, son of
V峁沰a, and administered poison to his mother with the intention of
killing him in her womb and Aurva had consoled Sagara's mother and
