The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Yoga Practice and Its Specificities’ of the study on the Markandeya Purana, one of the oldest of the eigtheen Mahapuranas preserving the history, civilisation, culture and traditions of ancient India. The Markandeyapurana commences with the questions raised by Rishi Jaimini (a pupil of Vyasa), who approaches the sage Markandeya with doubts related to the Mahabharata. This study examines various social topics such as the status of women, modes of worship, yoga, etc.
3. Yoga Practice and Its Specificities
The Yogin have mentioned the time and the place for practicing Yoga. It is advises by the Yogin that one should practise Yoga at a time where extreme warmth, excessive cold, strong winds and war is absent.[1] It is also mention that some places to be avoided for the Yoga practice such as-the place where there is noise or fire or water, a decayed cow-shed, cross-roads, a collection of dry leaves, a river etc. Some other places like infested by snakes, places full of fear, the edge of a well, amid a number of funeral piles or anthills etc. to be avoided for practicing Yoga.[2] Also quoted some times, besides places, also avoided should be where he does not feel easy. Moreover there should be no evil sight during Yoga practice.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
yuñjīta yogaṃ rājendra yogī siddhyrthamādṛtaḥ /
nātiśīte na coṣṇe vai na dvandve nānilātmake //
kāleṣveteṣu yuñjīta na yogaṃ dhyānatatparaḥ /
sa śabdāgnijalābhyāśe jīrṇagoṣṭhe catuṣpathe // Markaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 36.47-48
[2]:
śuṣkaparṇacaye nadyāṃ śmaśāne sasarīsṛpe /
sabhaye kūpatīre vā caityavalmīkasañcaye // Ibid., 36.49
[3]:
Ibid, 36.50-53 a