MARKANDEYA PURANA

Swan couple inspires Swarochi�s renunciation and implications of Padma Vidya

As Swarochi was enjoying an outing in a garden with his three wives, he heard the conversation of a Swan Couple as he had the facility of knowing the language of animals and birds. The male swan said that indeed they enjoyed their conjugal life to the brim but could there be an end to this! The female swan said that after all human beings craved for this pleasure only as they would perform Yagnas, Vratas and Charities only to sustain and enhance the pleasures of life and why should one talk of abandoning such life!

The male swan said that those who yearn for ‘Iham’ (worldly life) were not qualified to suggest ‘Param’ and those who were excessively possessive of the temporary and unreal life styles would have to regret in self-deceipt eventually as they get deep into the slush like a heavy elephant. He cited the example of Swarochi who had never tired of three lovely wives and looked perhaps for more! Swarochi was non-plussed at the conversation of the swans and decided at once to relinquish family life out of a sense of shame that even birds were critisising his unenviable example, let alone co-human beings! Thereafter he left for the penultimate ‘Kulaashrama’ of ‘Vanaprastha’ of abstinence at once and finally reached salvation; Lord Brahma then ordered for the next and third Manu as Swarochiska.

Muni Kroushtiki asked Markandeya about the significance of Padmini Vidya which Devi Parvati taught to Kalavati who in turn taught to Swarochi. The ‘Adhishtana Devata’ (Ruling Deity) of Padmini Vidya is Goddess Lakshmi who regulates Eight Kinds of ‘Nidhis’ (Sources) viz. Padma (or a Lotus which is of Satvika nature), Maha Padma (The Great Lotus, also of Satvika nathure ), Makara (A Crocodile signifying  a Tamasika source of Wealth), ‘Kacchhap’ (Tortoise signifying Wealth of Land, Mines and such other established sources), ‘Mukund’(Source of Rajasika nature of Wealth), ‘Nandaka’ (Yet another Rajasika source of Wealth), ‘Neela’( Literally meaning a Blue Sapphire indicating  a Source of Tamasika nature indicating contentment and Happiness) and ‘Shankha’ (literally meaning a Conch-shell indicating that Original Source Rajasika nature that is never parted with):
 
Padmini naama ya Vidya Lakshmistaya -asrayaascha Devata,
 Tadhaadhaarascha nidhiyastanmey nigadatah shrunu/
Yatra Padma Mahaa Padmou tatha makara kacchapou,
Mukundo Nandakaschaiva Neelah shankhoshtamo nidhih/

Among the eight sources of Wealth, the ‘Nidhi’ titled Padma enriches wealth by the successive generations; this source of Wealth multiplies by way of business deals in the form of vessels and ornaments made of Gold, silver etc. enabling the performance of Propitious Acts like Yagnas, Charities, Construction of Temples; this source is essentially of ‘Satvika Guna’. The Nidhi called Maha Padma which is also of Satvika Guna deals with exchange or further acquisitions of high-value jewellery and precious stones like diamonds for performing sizeably big tasks of Maha Yagnas and such other huge magnitudes; in this case the source of wealth involves very substantial investments or expenses for seven or more generations. Another source of wealth is of Tamasika nature called Makara which is utilised for enabling tasks like wars, maintenance of defence forces etc. but that kind of source might last for a generation or so. The source of wealth denoting Kacchapa is basically land-based, used for investments or expenses for ‘Dharma Karyas’. Mukunda is another source of wealth which is used for the Promotion of Fine Arts or such other acts of personality development involving Rajo guna for leading happy and satisfying lives. Essentially meant for meeting expenses towards ‘Athithya’ (taking care of guests), social functions or personal obligations, another source of wealth is long standing for seven generations or so called Nandaka involving Rajo guna again.The seventh source of wealth is called Neela of Tamasika / Satvika nature again in which buying or selling is involved of items like Dhanya( Farm Produce), Vastra (clothing), or saleable material involving transactions lasting for a medium run of generations, say for two or three. The Eighth source of wealth known as Shankha is mostly for individual utilisation but not even for his family even and hence is basically for tamasika end-use.