Markandeya Purana

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The Markandeya Purana (Sanskrit: मार्कण्‍डेय पुराण) is one of the major eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts. It is written in the style of a dialogue between the ancient sage Markandeya and Jaimini, a disciple of Vyasa.

Contents

The three early printed editions of this text vary from one another. The Calcutta edition ends abpruptly in chapter 136, leaving the narrative of Dama halfway. The Bombay and Poona editions have complete narrative of Dama, which ends in chapter 137.^[1] The text begins with the four questions put forth by Jaimini to Markandeya, after he approached the latter for the solution of some doubts raised in his mind after studying the Mahabharata. Markandeya refers him to the four wise birds living in the Vindhyas. Consequently, the four wise birds speak to Jaimini in chapters 4–44.^[2] The chapters 53–100 contain the accounts of the 14 Manvantaras (the periods of the Manus) of which 13 chapters (ch.81–93) are together known as the Devi Mahatmya (Glorification of the Great Goddess), which is embedded in this Purana. The chapters 111–137 have dealt with the genealogies of the Puranic dynasties.

Translations

The significant translations of this text into English include the translations by C.C. Mukherjee (1893) and F.E. Pargiter.

See also

• Chandi di Var
• Puranas

Notes

1. ^ Shastri, P. (1995). Introduction to the Puranas, New Delhi: Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, pp.77–8
2. ^ Hazra, R.C. (1962, reprint 2003). The Puranas in S. Radhakrishnan (ed.) The Cultural Heritage of India, Vol.II, Kolkata:The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, ISBN 81-85843-03-1, pp.255–6

References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola

Further reading

• Mani, Vettam. Puranic Encyclopedia. 1st English ed. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1975.

External links

• Entire Markandeya Purana at Urday
• Synopsis of Markandeya Purana

• Entire E. Pargiter's translation of Markandeya Purana at freebsd.nfo.sk in pure text