Puranas
Puranas (Sanskrit: पुराण, romanized: Purāṇas, lit. ‘Ancients’) are a vast genre of Indian literature that include a wide range of topics, especially legends and other traditional lore. The Puranas are known for the intricate layers of symbolism depicted within their stories. Composed originally in Sanskrit and in other Indian languages, several of these texts are named after major Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, and Devi. The Puranic genre of literature is found in both Hinduism and Jainism.
The Puranic literature is encyclopedic, and it includes diverse topics such as cosmogony, cosmology, genealogies of gods, goddesses, kings, queens, heroes, heroines, sages, other gods, other goddesses, folk tales, pilgrimages, temples, medicine, astronomy, grammar, mineralogy, humor, love stories, theology, philosophy, etc. The content is highly inconsistent across the Puranas, and each Purana has survived in numerous manuscripts which are themselves inconsistent. The Hindu Maha Puranas are traditionally attributed to Vyasa, but many scholars considered them likely the work of many authors over the centuries; in contrast, most Jaina Puranas can be dated and their authors assigned.
There are 18 Mukhya Puranas (Major Puranas) and 18 Upa Puranas (Minor Puranas), with over 400,000 verses. The first versions of various Puranas were likely to have been composed between 3rd and 10th century CE. While the Puranas do not enjoy the authority of a scripture in Hinduism and are considered Smritis, they shaped Hinduism more than the Vedas, providing a “culture synthesis” in weaving and integrating the diverse beliefs of a great number of local traditions into the Vedic-Brahmanic fold. While all Puranas praise many gods and goddesses and “their sectarianism is far less clear cut” than assumed, the religious practices included in them are considered Vaidika (congruent with Vedic literature). The Puranic literature wove with the Bhakti movement in India, and both Dvaita and Advaita scholars have commented on the underlying Vedantic themes in the Maha Puranas.
There are traditionally considered to be 18 major Puranas (Mahapuranas) and 18 minor Puranas (Upapuranas).
18 Major Puranas (Mahapuranas):
- Brahma Purana
- Padma Purana
- Vishnu Purana
- Shiva Purana
- Bhagavata Purana (also known as Srimad Bhagavatam)
- Narada Purana (also called Naradiya Purana)
- Markandeya Purana
- Agni Purana
- Bhavishya Purana
- Brahmavaivarta Purana
- Linga Purana
- Varaha Purana
- Skanda Purana
- Vamana Purana
- Kurma Purana
- Matsya Purana
- Garuda Purana
- Brahmanda Purana
18 Minor Puranas (Upapuranas):
There is some disagreement regarding the exact list of 18 Upapuranas. However, some commonly mentioned ones include:
- Sanatkumara Purana
- Narasimha Purana
- Brihad-naradiya Purana
- Shivarahasya Purana
- Durvasa Purana
- Kapila Purana
- Vamana Purana
- Bhargava Purana
- Varuna Purana
- Kalika Purana
- Samba Purana
- Nandi Purana
- Surya Purana
- Parasara Purana
- Vasishtha Purana
- Ganesha Purana
- Mudgala Purana
- Hamsa Purana
Significance of the Puranas:
- Religious and Cultural Guidance: The Puranas explain Hindu beliefs, rituals, ethics, and practices through stories of deities, sages, and historical events.
- Mythological and Historical Records: They contain a comprehensive narrative of the universe, genealogies of important figures, and historical accounts of royal dynasties.
- Encyclopedic Knowledge: Some Puranas serve as encyclopedias covering various subjects such as cosmology, astronomy, medicine, law, and architecture.
- Importance of Devotion (Bhakti): Many Puranas, particularly the Bhagavata Purana, emphasize the importance of devotion to specific deities.
- Pilgrimage Guides: Texts like the Skanda Purana offer detailed information about sacred places and pilgrimage centers.
- Influence on Indian Arts and Culture: The stories and themes from the Puranas have inspired various forms of Indian classical arts, including dance, music, and plays.
It’s important to note that the content and classifications of the Puranas can vary between different traditions and scholarly interpretations.