First Introduction to Markandeya Puraana

Introduction to Markandeya Puraana

The Markandeya Purana is one amongst the eighteen Mahapuranas. Jaimini, disciple of Maharshi Vedavyaasa goes too maarkandeya. maarkadeya directs him to birds - sons of Drona, Pingaksha,Vibodha, Suputra, Sumukha staying in the caves of Vinndhyaachala. The birds clarifies the doubts of Jaimini. The Purana may be considered as organized into five parts.  The first portion is discussion between Jaimini and the birds.  The second  portion is the discussion between Sumati,nicknamed Jada,and his father. The third portion is the discussion between Markandeya and his dis­ciple Kraustuki.  The fourth portion is dEvi mahAtme as told by rishi mEdhAs.  The fifth portion is the continued discussion between MarkandEya and Kraustuki.  The last four portions is interwoven in the discussion between the Jaimini and the birds. In the end,the Birds close here the long discourse delivered by Markandeya,and Jaimini thanks them and departs.  There are 16 chapters and 134 sections in the Makandeya puraana with sections 1-9 forming the first portion, sections 10-41 forming the second portion, sections 42-78 forming the third section, sections 79-90 forming the fourth section and the sections 91-134 forming the fifth portion.

The topics covered in the puraana include details of incarnation of Lord Vishnu.  Reason for deities taking birth as Pandavas.  Expiation of Balaraama.  Reasons for the birth and death of sons of Draupadi is explained through the story of Harischandra.  The marriage of Kandaara and Madanika, birth of birth of birds as sons of Drona, about Dattatreya and Alarka, Brahmin with leprosy, Anusuya blessing wife of the Brahmin, Gods bein pleased with Anusuya. Anusuya begetting Dattatreya, Karthaveryarjuna leaning yoga from dattatreya, Rithudwaja and Madalasa marriage are available in the maarkandeya puraana.  The topics covered in the MarkandEya puraana include birth and death, types of hells, sins and corresponding punishments, varnaashrama duties for all four varnas, duties and details about Shraadha, details of creation and Manvantaras are available in the mArkanDEya purANa.  

Contents of Markandeya Puraana

Chapter 1:  Introduction

Chapter 2 : Various creations and Famous Mythological characters

1.       Birth of four birds

2.       Birds Migrate to Vindhyachal

3.       Divine Plays of God

4.       Draupadi’s Five Husbands

5.       Expiation of Balaram

6.       Killing of Draupadi’s Sons

7.       King Harishchandra

8.       The Stork and the Partridge

9.       Birth of Living Creatures

Chapter 3: Description of Different Hells

1.       Introduction

2.       Yamadoot and the King of Videha

3.       Description of Tortures in Hell

4.       Attenuation of Sins

Chapter 4: Famous Mythological Characters

1.       Greatness of Being Chaste (and birth of Durvasa, Dattatreya, Chandrama)

2.       Dattatreya Preaches Kartaveerya Arjuna

3.       Kuvalayashva and the Horse Kuvalaya

4.       Kuvalaya goes to Patal Loka, Killing of Demon Patal Ketu and Marriage with Madalasa

5.       Separation of Madalasa

6.       Madalasa is Reborn

7.       Ritudhwaj Reunites with Madalasa

8.       Birth of Madalasa’s Sons

9.       Preachings of Madalasa

Chapter 5: Duties of People Belonging to Various Ashrams

1.       Varnashram Dharma

2.       Duties of a Grihastha (Householder)

Chapter 6: Shradha and its Rituals

1.       Regular and Causal Duties

2.       Dos and Don’t During a Shraadha

3.       Auspicious Days and Months

4.       Forbidden and Permitted Items

Chapter 7: King Alark and his queries about Yoga

1.       King Alark Receives a Ring

2.       Wisdom of Alark

3.       Dattatreya Preaches Alark

4.       Yogadhyay

5.       Perfection in Yoga

6.       Daily Routine of a Yogi

7.       Description of Omkar

8.       Description of Disastrous Traps

9.       Alark Masters Yoga and Penance of Jada and his Father

Chapter 8: The Universe and Lord Brahma’s Manifestation

1.       The Origin of the Universe

2.       Lord Brahma’s Life Span

3.       Natural and Flawed Creations

4.       Creation of the Deities

5.       Copulative Creations

6.       Daksha’s Lineage

7.       Descendants of Duhsah

8.       The Creation of Rudras

Chapter 9: The Various Manavantars

1.       Swayambhuva Manavantar

1.       Jambudveep

2.       The Origin of the Ganga

3.       A Description of Bharat-Varsha

4.       Tortoise Incarnation

5.       The Descriptions of Bhadrashva

6.       The Description of Kimpurush-Varsha

2.       The Beginning of Swarochish Manavantar

1.       Varudhini’s Modesty Breached

2.       His Marriage with Manorama

3.       Swarochi’s Other Marriages

4.       Swarochi’s Reproachment

5.       The Origin of Swarochish Manu

6.       Swarochish Manavantar

3.       Auttam Manavantar Begins

1.       King Uttam Abandons his Wife

2.       Brahmin’s Wife Returns Home

3.       The Sage and King Uttam

4.       The Birth of Auttam Manu

5.       Auttam Manavantar

4.       Tamas Manavantar

5.       Raivat Manavantar

6.       Chakshush Manavantar

7.       Vaivasvat Manavantar

8.       The Sages of Saavarnik Manavantar

1.       Killing of Madhu Kaitabha

2.       The Destruction of Mahishasura’s Army

3.       The Deities Eulogize Goddess Bhagwati

4.       Goddess Parvati and Shumbh’s Messenger

5.       Killing of Dhumralochan

6.       Killing of Chand and Mund

7.       Killing of Raktabeej

8.       Killing of Nishumbh

9.       Killing of Shumbh

10.   Devi Stotra

11.   Goddess Bhagwati Blesses the Deities

12.   Goddess Bhagwati Blesses Surath and the Vaishya

13.   Savarna Manavantar

9.       Rauchya Manavantar

1.       Birth of Rauchya Manu

2.       Ruchi Advised to get Married

3.       Ruchi Eulogizes his Ancestors

4.       Ancestors Bless Ruchi

10.   The Beginning of Bhautya Manavantar

1.       Birth of Martandadev

Chapter 10: Manifestation of the Sun God (Aditya) and the Vedas

1.       Lord Brahma Eulogizes Surya

2.       Progeny of Kashyap Prajapati and Aditi’s Eulogy of Divakar

3.       Aditi gives birth to Aditya

4.       Vishwakarma Eulogizes Aditya

5.       Rajyavardan’s Subjects Eulogize Aditya for their King’s Long Life

6.       Martandadev and his Descendants

Chapter 11: Famous Mythological Tales

1.       King Prishadhna

2.       Prince Nabhag

3.       Curse of Sage Pramati

4.       Agastya’s Brother Curses Kripavati

5.       Bhalandan and Vatsapri

6.       The Kingdoms of Pranshu, Prajaati and Khanitra

7.       King Khanitra

8.       King Vivinsha

9.       King Khaninetra

10.   Karandham

Chapter 12: King Aveekshit

1.       Birth of Aveekshit and Abduction of Vaishaalini

2.       Aveekshit gets defeated in Battle

3.       Liberation of Aveekshit and his Disenchantment

4.       Aveekshit Promises his Father to get Married

5.       Aveekshit Rescues Vaishalini

6.       Aveekshit Marries Vaishalini

Chapter 13: King Marut

1.       Birth of Marut

2.       Marut Ascends the Throne

3.       A Hermit Advises Marut on behalf of Veera

4.       The Serpents take the Refuge of Bhamini (Vaishalini)

5.       The Hermit’s Sons Come to Life Again

Chapter 14: King Narishyant

1.       Sumana Chooses Dama as her Husband

2.       Killing of Narishyant

Chapter 15: King Dama and his Marriage with Sumana

1.       Dama Vows to Kill Vayushmaan

2.       Killing of Vayushmaan

Chapter 16: The Benefits of Listening to the Markandaya Purana