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The Markandeya Purana
A marvellous amalgam of mythology and metaphysics, the Markandeya Purana unfolds as a series of conversations, in which the sage Markandeya is asked to answer some deeper questions raised by events in the Mahabharata. These illuminating exchanges evolve into a multi-faceted exploration of the core concepts of Hindu philosophy-from an excellent exposition of yoga and its unique attributes to a profound treatise on the worship of the goddess, the Devi Mahatmya, which also includes the popular devotional texts known as 'Chandi' or 'Durga Saptashati'.
Brimming with insight and told with clarity, this luminous text is also a celebration of a complex mythological universe populated with gods and mortals, and contains within its depths many nested tales like that of Queen Madalasa and her famous song.
Bibek Debroy's masterful translation draws out the subtleties of the Markandeya Purana, enabling a new generation of readers to savour its timeless riches.
Brimming with insight and told with clarity, this luminous text is also a celebration of a complex mythological universe populated with gods and mortals, and contains within its depths many nested tales like that of Queen Madalasa and her famous song.
Bibek Debroy's masterful translation draws out the subtleties of the Markandeya Purana, enabling a new generation of readers to savour its timeless riches.
560 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
61 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Markandeya
6 books1 followerMarkandeya (Sanskrit: मार्कण्डेय) is an ancient rishi (sage) from the Hindu tradition, born in the clan of Brigu Rishi. He is celebrated as a devotee of both Shiva and Vishnu and is mentioned in a number of stories from the Puranas. The Markandeya Purana especially, comprises a dialogue between Markandeya and a sage called Jaimini and a number of chapters in the Bhagavata Purana are dedicated to his conversations and prayers. He is also mentioned in the Mahabharata. Markandeya is venerated within all mainstream Hindu traditions.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 11, 2023
Can’t thank enough the auspicious moment when I decided to read this “Glorious rendition of one of the oldest Puranas” rightly described by the illustrious author @bibekdebroy ji.
Its a treasure of knowledge - Jnana & Vijnana via stores that kept me hooked throughout!
I can’t appropriately describe it in words how enlightening it has been. I wasn’t bored even for a single moment. Information in some parts is heavy and might need re-reading and/or some expert help to understand it better but it’s thought provoking too! I have so many questions & a hunger to know more. Highly recommended for all the knowledge hungry and/or spiritual minds!
Its a treasure of knowledge - Jnana & Vijnana via stores that kept me hooked throughout!
I can’t appropriately describe it in words how enlightening it has been. I wasn’t bored even for a single moment. Information in some parts is heavy and might need re-reading and/or some expert help to understand it better but it’s thought provoking too! I have so many questions & a hunger to know more. Highly recommended for all the knowledge hungry and/or spiritual minds!
Read
April 23, 2023BEAUTIFUL AND MAGNIFICENT.
SPIRITUAL AND BREATHTAKING.
DEFINITELY A LIFE CHANGER.
HAR HAR MAHADEV JAI SHREE RAM JAI BAJARANGBALI ⚘🌷🌹🙏🙏🙏
SPIRITUAL AND BREATHTAKING.
DEFINITELY A LIFE CHANGER.
HAR HAR MAHADEV JAI SHREE RAM JAI BAJARANGBALI ⚘🌷🌹🙏🙏🙏
January 24, 2024
3rd star is for the effort the translator put in.
December 19, 2022
I have not read the original Sanskrit version and therefore cannot vouch for the accuracy. But I will very confidently believe in the reviews by the other learned people who have vouched for it.
This book is wonderful when it comes to reading and getting to know the extremely rich heritage that we bear being Indians and therefore all should read this.
The language is very simple and anyone can understand it and the footnotes are exceptionally of help in interpreting the passages. Although I have not read the Puranas in Sanskrit, I did read the Geeta, and from that experience can definitely feel that the chapters here are very close to the original Sanskrit compositions. I mean if anyone probably compares the two texts (Sanskrit and English) side by side, one may actually see how closely the english reflects the original sanskrit texts.
Two notes where an improvement may be done:
1. Instead of making the book a literal translation, the same could be made slightly more concise and the repeated praises for the Gods to be crispier and the actual mythology be focussed upon. With literal translation, not only does the volume increases (while there is no denying that it does full justice to the original text) but it makes the reading maybe a tad more tedious which may lead to the readers to jump through the paragraphs and pages to reach the section where the main story is progressed further.
2. Although the original Puranas do not have chapter headings, in my opinion, it would be good to have some sort of an indicative heading to the chapters so that the reader has the option to select. While reading the book, I created my own chapter headings. The beautiful thing is that now, when I have started reading the Vishnu Puranas by the same author, I find that he has already created chapter headings for them and that is a really big help.
All in all, this is a beautiful book, very detailed because it is almost a literal translation from the original Puranas in Sanskrit, and I would recommend it very strongly to anyone who is sincerely interested in the rich heritage and legacy of our country.
This book is wonderful when it comes to reading and getting to know the extremely rich heritage that we bear being Indians and therefore all should read this.
The language is very simple and anyone can understand it and the footnotes are exceptionally of help in interpreting the passages. Although I have not read the Puranas in Sanskrit, I did read the Geeta, and from that experience can definitely feel that the chapters here are very close to the original Sanskrit compositions. I mean if anyone probably compares the two texts (Sanskrit and English) side by side, one may actually see how closely the english reflects the original sanskrit texts.
Two notes where an improvement may be done:
1. Instead of making the book a literal translation, the same could be made slightly more concise and the repeated praises for the Gods to be crispier and the actual mythology be focussed upon. With literal translation, not only does the volume increases (while there is no denying that it does full justice to the original text) but it makes the reading maybe a tad more tedious which may lead to the readers to jump through the paragraphs and pages to reach the section where the main story is progressed further.
2. Although the original Puranas do not have chapter headings, in my opinion, it would be good to have some sort of an indicative heading to the chapters so that the reader has the option to select. While reading the book, I created my own chapter headings. The beautiful thing is that now, when I have started reading the Vishnu Puranas by the same author, I find that he has already created chapter headings for them and that is a really big help.
All in all, this is a beautiful book, very detailed because it is almost a literal translation from the original Puranas in Sanskrit, and I would recommend it very strongly to anyone who is sincerely interested in the rich heritage and legacy of our country.
September 24, 2024
Easiest translation I have come upon.
Wise, eternal, and in depth.
Not for someone who needs a light read, this is a magnificent and a totally beautiful compilation.
Wise, eternal, and in depth.
Not for someone who needs a light read, this is a magnificent and a totally beautiful compilation.
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July 29, 2024Wendy Doniger believes it’s probably from c. 250 CE, with the exception of the Devi Mahatmya, which she dates to c. 550 CE
Other scholars have also suggested that parts of this Purana existed by the third century.
Other scholars have placed it between 4th- to 6th-century CE.
Other scholars have also suggested that parts of this Purana existed by the third century.
Other scholars have placed it between 4th- to 6th-century CE.
May 30, 2012
Among these stories and parables are these interesting details:
"There were many hells (narakas) for different types of sinners...After they had served their sentences in various hells, sinners were born first as birds, then as worms, insects, animals, mosquitoes, cows, horses, elephants, trees and humans in that order." They are born first as ugly or deformed people and then rise in caste if they acquire punya (merit). (pp. 24-25)
A king with several powerful sons sacrifices to Mitra and Varuna to ask for yet another son. He makes a mistake in the ritual and "a daughter named Ila came out of the ceremonial fire." The king is "disgusted" and successfully prays to turn Ila into a son named Sudyumna. One day, after being cursed in a forest, Sudyumna is changed back into Ila. Ila marries and bears a son. Ila sacrifices a horse and changes back into Sudyumna. (p. 105)
"There were many hells (narakas) for different types of sinners...After they had served their sentences in various hells, sinners were born first as birds, then as worms, insects, animals, mosquitoes, cows, horses, elephants, trees and humans in that order." They are born first as ugly or deformed people and then rise in caste if they acquire punya (merit). (pp. 24-25)
A king with several powerful sons sacrifices to Mitra and Varuna to ask for yet another son. He makes a mistake in the ritual and "a daughter named Ila came out of the ceremonial fire." The king is "disgusted" and successfully prays to turn Ila into a son named Sudyumna. One day, after being cursed in a forest, Sudyumna is changed back into Ila. Ila marries and bears a son. Ila sacrifices a horse and changes back into Sudyumna. (p. 105)
November 25, 2022
bhaiya sahile padhne to do tb bataiyb na
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews