मल्लपुराण (ज्येष्ठिमल्ल - प्राचीन भारतीय मल्लविद्या, अखाड़ा व्यायाम व कुश्ती महाग्रन्थ)

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Summary of Malla-purāṇa :
The present collated text of Mallapurāṇa runs into 18 Adhyāyas or
Chapters.
THE FIRST CHAPTER begins with the prayers offered to the Hands of
Viṣṇu (Hari) and the famous opening sloka from Mahābhārata. The exposition
of Mallapurāṇa begins by the query of Nārada to Brahmā. Brahmā informs
him that Kṛṣṇa and Balabhadra were moving towards Dwārkā after destroying
Kaṁsa. They came to Mayurava Mbāla, a town of Brāhmins where Rama has
performed penance and established the brāhmins. The details of the geogra-
phical position of Mayuravaṁbālam is given as occupying the central position
in Dharmāraṇya. It is near Moheraka and to the east of Lohāsura. The differ-
ent names of Mayuravaṁbālam are given as Iśāna, Śrīmālaka, Mayuravaṁ-
bālam, Devālayam,¹ Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were warmly greeted by the town.
SECOND CHAPTER details out the questions asked by Someśvara of
Garga gotra. Kṛṣṇa asks the well-being of the people of the town, and hearing
the answer in positive, he asks Someśvara to accept the Mallavidyā that he gave
him. The glory of Mallavidyā is sung and Someśvara is asked to accept it.
Someśvara questions Kṛṣṇa about the reasons of upholding this knowledge by
him. To this question Kṛṣṇa answers that it was upheld for destroying Madhu
Kaiṭabha, Kaṁsa, Muṣṭika, Caṇūra. Someśvara is pleased and further asks
Kṛṣṇa to explain Mallaveṣa, the method of killing Kaṁsa, Caṇūra and Muṣṭika.
Kṛṣṇa tells the story about his childhood and the method of destroying them.
THE THIRD CHAPTER opens with the beginning of the preparations of
training and Kṛṣṇa gives a discourse on the types of Mallas fit for receiving the
training. He devides Mallas in Jyeṣṭhī, Antarajyeṣṭhī, Gopakula and Bhaviṣya.
¹ The geographical position suggest Delmāl, which is considered as the
traditional place of origin of Jyeṣṭhimallas. But the connection of Iśāna, Śrī-
mālaka and Mayuravaṁbālam with Devālayam = Delmāl is difficult to explain.
This Delmāl is at a distance of about 10 miles to the west of Moḍherā. The
description of this village suggests that the author knew this site, because he
does not mention any river in the vicinity, but speaks of step-wells, wells and
ponds which exist here. Moreover a small tank with earthen dam existed on the
east of Delmāl. On its West bank there is a broken temple of Chaulukyan age.
Today it is locally known as that of Pālechī Mātā or Pālanīmātā. Besides this,
old temples are existing here, which justify the author's version that there were
many temples. All these observations lead one to identify this Devālaya or
Mayuravaṁbālam with Delmāl of North Gujarat where Jyeṣṭhīs still live and
carry on agricultural activity. A small unused Gymnasium, the temple of
Limbajā give additional support to this identification.