[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879) › c5.1157 # A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1157 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1157 - **Language:** English ### [c5.1157](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1157) MĀRKANDEYA PURĀNA. “That Purāna in which, commencing with the story of the birds that were acquainted with right and wrong, everything is narrated fully by Mārkandeya as it was explained by holy sages in reply to the question of the Muni, is called the Mārkandeya, containing 9000 verses.” This Purāna is narrated in the first place by Mārkandeya, and in the second by certain fabulous birds profoundly versed in the Vedas, who relate their knowledge in answer to the questions of the sage Jaimini. “It has a character different from all the other Purānas. It has nothing of a sectarial spirit, little of a religious tone; rarely inserting prayers and invocations to any deity, and such as are inserted are brief and moderate. It deals little in precepts, ceremonial or moral. Its leading feature is narrative, and it presents an uninterrupted succession of legends, most of which, when ancient, are embellished with new circumstances, and, when new, partake so far of the spirit of the old, that they are disinterested creations of the imagination, having no particular motive, being designed to recommend no special doctrine or observance. Whether they are derived from any other source, or whether they are original inventions, it is not possible to ascertain. They are most probably, for the greater part at least, original; - [Previous: c5.1156](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1156) - [Next: c5.1158](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1158) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5) ## Cites (2) - [Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Veda](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1157](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1157) · Pramāṇa