Customs (Systems Followed By The Community)

Custom generally means a system which is followed by the people of a particular community. Customs are playing a significant role in the society as they are the constituents of discipline of a society. The people of different communities follow different customs. The people of India have been following, from ancient time, the injunctions revealed through the Vedas which advise men to follow the path of law (ṛta) and truth (satya) for their welfare. The Saṃjñānasūkta^[1] of the Ṛgveda expresses the idea of unity and fraternity. In the Atharvaveda^[2] also we find many references of desiring good behaviour amongst the members of the family. The Brāmaṇas and the Upaniṣads also contain many instructions for good behaviour. In the Smṛti period Manu is very famous as law giver. In the Yājñavalkya-smṛti of Yājñavalkya, one of the three sections is relating to ācāra. These rules and regulations prescribed by these seers constitute the custom of the society.

In the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, different types of customs prevailing in different places are mentioned through various references. This purāṇa contains some references to the modes of greeting among the seniors, equals and younger. For example, the son, coming back from journey, is seen to bow down his head before his parents and to touch their feet desiring blessing from them^[3] so that he can enjoy himself the remaining days. Likewise, a young man is seen to bow down at the feet of an elder person. Here, Ṛtadhvaja is seen to greet the king Nāga seeking his blessings.^[4] Same method is seen adopted by the daughter-in-law to her parents-in-law.^[5] She should honour other elder relatives of her husband’s house with obeisance, embraces and greetings, according to the propriety and their ages.^[6] One who show reverence to the parents and other elder person he is seen to be blessed with desire of his long life^[7] and he also received their blessings with obeisance.

There are various types of blessings and expressions seen in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa. For example, after defeating Pātālaketu and other demons, king Ṛtadhvaja was blessed by his father, king Śatrujit, for his prosper in riches, heroism and happiness and for non-separation from his newly married wife, Madālasā.^[8] Again, the young man is seen to bow down at the feet of an elder person and the latter raised him and blessed him with a warm kiss on his head and wished him to be long lived and destroyer of his enemies and to be of humble behaviour to his father.^[9]

It is found to be a courtesy of that time that as a sign of high respect to her husband the wife did not mention her husband by his name, which was considered to be a good manner for a wife. We find the evidence of this custom in Vaiśālī that this Brahmin lady, in place of mentioning her husband by name, she mentioned her husband as the son of Viśāla before king Uttama.^[10] The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa also refers modes of greetings of the friends. An intimate friend of someone was considered as the soul of the later moving outside.^[11] Embracing with the highest friendly affection was a custom of greeting.

We find the evidence in this Purāṇa that at the time of reaching of Ṛtadhvaja at his own city the wide open eyed, people, out of great pleasure, embrace one another:

pariṣvajantamanyonyamatikautūhalānvitam.^[12]

He the Rājaputra, also embraces those people who might be his friends or foes.^[13]

The tradition of sending invitations and accepting the same is a custom of the society which has been recognised in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa as well. We notice this example in case of, to fulfil the desire of Nāga king for seeing wise prince Kuvalayāśva, the two sons of the king were sent to invite him with proper advice and Kuvalayāśva, considering himself to be lucky enough to be invited by the king, accepted their invitation saying that he did not want to waste even a moment to proceed to the king’s place.^[14] The modes of introducing a stranger are different. The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa bears an example of introduction of Jaiini himself to the birds that he was Jaimini, Vyāsa’s disciple and he had gone there to learn about the solutions of his doubts about Mahābhārata.^[15]

There are also certain styles to bid goodbye in every society. This habit is also found in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa while Subāhu bid goodbye to king Kāśī at the time of his (kāśī’s) leaving the place. She bid him goodbye saying kāryaṃ bhadraṃ te’stu i.e. may your works be auspicious.^[16].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ṛgveda, 10.191.2-4

[2]:

Atharvaveda, 3.30.2-3

[3]:

Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 20.4

[4]:

Ibid., 21.106

[5]:

Ibid., 23.2

[6]:

Ibid., 23. 2-3

[7]:

Ibid., 21.7

[8]:

Ibid., 19.103

[9]:

Ibid., 21. 106-107

[10]:

Ibid., 67.4

[11]:

sakhā prāṇo bahiścaraḥ / Ibid. , 21.85 b

[12]:

Ibid., 21.3

[13]:

Ibid., 21.4

[14]:

Ibid., 21. 80-85

[15]:

Ibid., 4.9

[16]:

Ibid., 41.12