Marici

By Swami Harshananda

Marici is considered a mānasaputra or mind-born son of Brahmā, the creator. He is reckoned among the prajāpatis.^[1] He is also one of the Saptarṣis.^[2]

His wife was Kalā, the daughter of Kardama, another prajāpati. The sage Kaśyapa was his son.There is a smṛti attributed to him and its verses are quoted by other writers of dharmaśāstras. His opinions on āhnika,^[3] aśauca,^[4] śrāddha,^[5] prāyaścitta^[6] and vyavahāra^[7] have been noted with respect. Some of his views like the transactions involved in sale of property approach our modern laws. The smṛti perhaps contained both verses and sentences in prose.

References[edit]

↑ Prajāpatis are the progenitors of mankind.
↑ Saptarṣis are the seven sages.
↑ Āhnika is daily routine of a dvija or the twice-born.
↑ Aśauca literally means ceremonial impurity.
↑ Śrāddha means obsequial rites.
↑ Prāyaścitta means expiations for sins.
↑ Vyavahāra means secular life.

The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

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[1] Prajāpatis are the progenitors of mankind.

[2] Saptarṣis are the seven sages.

[3] Āhnika is daily routine of a dvija or the twice-born.

[4] Aśauca literally means ceremonial impurity.

[5] Śrāddha means obsequial rites.

[6] Prāyaścitta means expiations for sins.

[7] Vyavahāra means secular life.

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