Puranas in brief description

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International Journal of Sanskrit Research2015

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International Journal of Sanskrit Research 2017

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: 01-04

ISSN: 2394-7519

IJSR 2017; 3(4): 01-04

www.anantaajournal.com

Received: 01-05-2017

Accepted: 02-06-2017

Sailaja Kaipa

Sri Venkatesvara University,

Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

Correspondence

Sailaja Kaipa

Sri Venkatesvara University,

Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

Puranas in brief description

Sailaja Kaipa

1. Introduction

The Puranas form a very important branch of the sacred literature of India. They enable us to

know the true purpose of the ethics, philosophy and religion of Vedas. They are the

frameworks of the Dharma-Satras, without which the life force of the Vedas cannot function

with effect. The Puranas were written, according to Indian Tradition, with the object of the

popularizing the Truths, Taught in the Vedas. These Truths are presented in relation to specific

personages and to the events of their Lives.

The Puranas describe the Historic evolution of the Mankind in course of time. They describe

the eternal cycle of the Creation, Destruction and Recreation of the world, which constitute a

fundamental concept in all the Puranas. Besides the Puranas reflect in detail the contemporary

Life and Thought of the Society. Thus they largely have moulded the public life, Belief,

Conduct and Ideal for centuries and have contributed a great deal in bringing about Religious

Harmony and understand among the various sections of the Hindu Society. The Puranas afford

us for greater Insight into all aspects and phases of Development in the Hinduism like

mythology, Idol-worship, Superstitions, Festivals, Ceremonies and ethics.

Some scholars say that the Puranas are sectarian and have contradictory in Character. It is not

true because each Purana has preferences, but no exclusions in regards to the gods. In a

Purana, whether it is a Saiva or Vaishanava or a Sakta, we find references to the exploits of

respective Gods in each of them. For the purpose of intensifying Devotion to one God, the

deity is described as the Supreme Reality. But this is not the denial of Godhood to others. In

reality, the trinity of gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesa is one divinity associated with the

three cosmic functions of Creation, Preservation and Destruction of the Universe.

2. The Term Purana and Its Antiquity

In general, the word Purana is used in the sense of “old”. Even in the Rgveda, it is used in the

same connotation taking into account, the Puranas being considered as an individual literary

form, the Puranas derives the word different ways. The Vayu-Purana derives the word from

“Pura” and the root”An” and gives the Meaning of the word as “that which breathed in old

times’. The Padma and Brahmnda Puranas also give similar meanings.

The word ‘Purabhavam’ is formed by the addition of “tyu” + termination to the indeclinable

“Pura” according to Panini. The Nipata ‘tud’ can also be explained by another sutra.

The word ‘Purana’ can be shown to have been formed according to another Sutra also. It can

be said that the root ‘Ni’ with the prefix ‘Pura takes on ‘Da “termination, which is changed to

‘Na’. We know hardly anything about the Puranas mentioned in the Vedas, but it is clear that

the Purana had attained a status of sacredness like the Vedas and was closely associated with

Itihasa even in the Vedic times.

Though the work Purana was applied to a genre of literature in the later days, it is not known

whether the Purana had got the same connotation in the Vedic days. The work occurs in the

Rgveda but there, it means ‘Old’. I n the Atharavanaveda the word means a body of stories or

legends, which were narrated in the intervals of the sacrifice 6. In the Brahmnans and the

Upanishads, the same meaning continues. Another word used in the similar meaning was

“itihasa’.

Though subtle distinction is made between ‘itihasa’ and Purana by some scholars it can be said

that both the words meant ‘an ancient legendary history’ sometimes both the words were used

together, this is the first stage in the evaluation of the Purana Literature.

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3. The Purpose of Puranas

The Puranas satisfy our popular cravings, by catering to our

physical, moral or spiritual needs. It was the feeling that the

Vedas were dictatorial and had become confined to one

particular classes, while the Puranas welcomed everybody and

more than that, promised immediate fruits like material

prosperity like than of obtaining wealth the birth of children

etc., as the Vedic sacrifice was more complicate and also in

values men and matter in producing and tangible result, and

also as pilgrimages to sacred places as mentioned in the

Puranas did yield the desired fruits, the appeal of the later has

become more and more popular with the susceptible Hindu

mind. Thus they became to constitute a miscellaneous

encyclopedia of Hinduism in all its aspects – say mythology

religion and philosophy. Beside our political history in the

centuries following the epics till today, are all exhaustively

discussed therein. The Puranas could however be studied by

the common folk and even by women.

Perhaps the earliest of the Puranas must have been prose

compositions as the evidence of Vidyaranya in his Aitareya

Bhasya shows later they must have been versified. Gradually

they must have increased in number to 18 Puranas and as

many UpaPuranas, the latter being definitely very late in time.

4. The Definition of Purana

The different works known by the name of Puranas are

evidently derived from the same religious systems as the

Ramayana and MahaBharatha are from the mythological

stage of Hindu belief.

It appears that the Purana works are of evidently of different

ages and they have been complied under different

circumstances their precise nature can be imperfectly

conjectured from internals evidence and from the history of

religious in India.

The Puranas unanimously offer a definition that it should

consists of Five Characters (Pancalakshna) they are:

1. Sarga : Primary creation or cosmogony;

2. Pratisarga : Secondary Creation or the Destruction and

renovation of worlds, including chronology;

3. Vamsa : genealogy of gods and patriarchs;

4. Manvatara : Reigns of Manus or periods called

Manvataras;

5. Vamsanucharitam: History or such particulars as have

been preserved of the princes of the Solar and Lunar

races and of their descendents to modern times.

The Theogony and cosmogony of the Puranas may probably

be traced to the Vedas.

4a. the Author of the Puranas

The authorship of all these Puranas is attributed to Vyasa by

tradition.

5. The Number of Puranas

The Puranas are of two kinds –Viz Maha Puranas and Upa

Puranas. The MahaPuranas, which are in eighteen in number,

are generally considered to be main and more authoritative

than the latter. The same in number are the UpaPuranas or

Subsidiary Puranas.

In the enumeration of eighteen Mahapuranas, there are only

two or three variations. The Devi Bhagavatha state them as

follows:

1. Markendeya Purana

2. Matsya purana

3. Bhagavatha Purana

4. Bhavisya Purana

5. Brahmanda Purana

6. Brahma Purana

7. Brahma Vivarta Purana

8. Vishuna Purana

9. Varaha Purana

10. Vamana Purana

11. Vaayu Purana

12. Agni Purana

13. Narada Purana

14.

Padma Purana

15. Linga Purana

16. Garuda Purana

17. Kurma Purana

18. Skanda Purana

The Kurma Purana omits Agni Purana and substitutes the

Vayu Purana. The Vayu Purana omits the Garuda Purana and

Brahmanda Purana and inserts the Vayu Purana and Narsimha

Purana.

The Devi Bhagavata Purana lists out the Upa Puranas in the

order

 Sanatkumara

 Narasimha

 Naradiya

 Siva

 Durvasa

 Kapila

 Manava

 Ausasana

 Varuna

 Kalika

 Samba

 Nandi

 Saura

 Parasara

 Aditya

 Maheswara

 Bhagavata

 Vasistha

Generally the Bhagavata mentioned in the Mahapurana in

considered as genuine Mahapurana as it is include in the

‘Sattivik’ class of Puranas known as Vaisnavite.

6. Division of Puranas

Generally main Puranas are classified into Three Divisions.

When some classify them on the basis of the three Gunas,

according to some the classification is on the basis of Trinity-

is Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. Both are right as the trinity

arises through the three gunas Nobility (Rajas), Rhythom

(Sattva) and Immobility (Tamas).

In this unmanifested state, matter and spirit were latent: When

the Gunas of matter began to be disturbed, there came into

being the three Gunas as well as the three intelligences.

Through Rajas, the one spirit became Brahma, the creator;

through Sattava, he became Vishnu, the preserver; and

through Tamas, siva, the Destroyer, who is also called Rudra

or Mahadeva. The three Gunas cannot be entirely separated,

one from the other. In chapter XI of the Bhagavad Gita, It is

stated that the three Gunas having arisen from matter are in all

objects; and whenever one guna of the three is made manifest

in an object it preponderates in it, the other Gunas being along

with it similarly with the three intelligences, Brahma, Vishnu

and Siva who are inseparable from the Gunas.

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So it is that the eighteen Puranas may be divided into three

classes, either from the standpoint of matter or from that of

consciousness. Some Puranas are dedicated to Brahma of

Rajas; some to Vishnu of Sattwa, some to Siva of Tamas.

Thus it is said in the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana that

the Puranas, as well as other works are divided in to three

classes, according to the three qualities, which prevail in

them. Thus the: Vishnu, Naradiya, Bhagavata, Garuda Padma

and Varaha purans are Sattwika from the predominance in

them of the Sattwa Quality. They are in fact the Vaishnava

Puranas.

The Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Siva Skandha and Agni puranas

are Tamasa Puranas, from the prevalence of Tamas. They are

indisputably the Saiva Purans. The third series comprising the

Bramhanda, Brahma Vaivarta, Markandeya, Bhavisya and

Vamana are designated as Rajasa, from Rajas, which there are

supposed to represent.

7. The content of puranas

7.1 Matsya purana

Lord Vishnu narrated this in the form of fish to Manu, the

first king after the delug. [pralaya] The puranas contains

14000 slokas. The stories of kartikeya, yayati and savitri were

described in this purana. The holy places prayaga and

Varanasi, festivals, omens and rites to be observed by

saivaites and vaishnavaites are described. References of the

south India and south Indian architecture are available in this

purana. Temple construction and it describes vamana and

varaha kalpa. We find a Devi stotra in matsya purana. The

matsya purana done, among the 18 puranas displays the

dasalaksana ten features of puranas which are

Sarga-creation

Pratisarga-recreation

Vamsa-genealogies of gods and sages

Vamsanucarita-genealogies of kings

Vritti- means of subsistence

Raksa-divine incarnations

Mukti- final release

Hetu- prime cause

Apasraya- Supreme Being

The matsya purana divided into two parts and 201 chapters.

7.2 Markandeya purana

Elaborate descriptions of creation and deluge, stories of Vedic

gods like sun, fire, Indra gods etc., are available in this

purana. The purana narrated by the sage markandeya and

contain 9000 slokas. The Devi mahatyam or durga saptasati is

a part of it. This is the base for chandi homa, sata homa,

sahasra chandi homa etc., stories of the lord Rama and

Krishna are also in this. In this purana we find the worship of

the goddess.

7.3 Bhagavata purana

This is the most popular purana. It has been translated in all

major Indian languages, it contains 18000 slokas. There are

12 books {skandas} in it and the tenth book describes the

birth of Lord Sri Krishna. 24 incarnations of lord Vishnu is

described and large number of devotional poems with high

philosophical content are available. This purana narrated by

sage vyasa to sage suka, suka narrates to the king parikshit.

7.4 Bhavishya purana

Talking about the future particularly kaliyuga continues in

14500 slokas. The puranas narrated by the god sun to Manu,

duties of four castes and methods to worship the sun, Agni,

and nagas.

7.5 Brahma puranam

This is known as the first puranam, it is also called surya

puranam, and this was narrated by the creator brahma to

daksha. Prajapati in 10000 slokas. It contains greatness of

holy places, the stories of Sri Krishna, markandeya, kasyapa,

the description of heaven and hell.

7.6 Bramhanda purana

The popular adhyatma Ramayana is a part of it. This purana

narrated by brahma to sage mariachi in 12000 slokas. This is

in the form of dialogue between Siva and parvati. The stories

of radha, Krishna, parasurama, Sri Rama. The stories like Sri

Lalitha, Siva, and Krishna are available in it. It describes the

vedangas and adhi kalpa.

7.7 Brahma vivarta purana

It describes that the whole universe is the illusory

transformation of Supreme Being in 18000 slokas. Savarna

manu narrated this purana to sage narada. In the fourth section

of this purana it is beautifully described about Krishna and

radha. Krishna is the god and radha is Maya {illusory power

of god}. Who is insuperable from him but always controlled

by him. Goloka is their abode which is far beyond vaikunta

and the great devotees who have attained same ness of form

with lord Krishna stay here. This is the source of jayadevas

gita govindam. Durga, Lakshmi, saraswati, radha who were

known as pancha sakti are described in it.

7.8 Varaha purana

This purana was told to bhudevi by mahavishnu in 24000

slokas. It describes different vratas, lord Vishnu glories. The

stories of lord shiva –parvati, it describes dharma sastra and

holy places. It is describing the daily life of a devotee of lord

Vishnu.

7.9 Vamana purana

Starting with the description of vamana avatar and proceeds

to the worship of siva linga, the marriage of siva and parvati,

the stories of Ganesh and kartikeya, pilgrimage to siva

temples in total 10000 slokas narrated by the sage pulastya to

the sage narada. This is the vamana purana.

7.10 Vayu purana

This purana was narrated by vayu deva in 24000 slokas. It

contains the glory of lord maheswara, describes the universe,

solar system.

7.11 Visnu Purana

This is the oldest and was narrated by Parasara, father of

Vedavyasa to his disciple Maitreya, stories of various

devotees a description of the age of kali etc., in 23000 verses.

This purana is divided into six parts, each of which is

subdivided into many chapters. The first part gives an account

of creation, which is attributed to purusha and prakriti. The

second part describes the earth and the nethor worlds. Other

parts contain some gathas, akhyanas, genealogies of Vedic

seers and king’s mythology, cosmogony, dharasasta etc. First

part contains 22 adhyayas, second part contains 16 adhyayas,

third part 18 adhyayas, fourth part 24 adhyayas, fifth part

contains 38 adhyayas and the last part contains 8 adhyayas.

In Vishnu Purana we find only one Lakshmi Stotra [Sree

stotra] in the 9

chapter [1-9-116-131].

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7.12 Agnipurana (295 adhyayas)

Agni the fire god to sage vasistha, narrated this purana in

15.400 slokas. It is describing that Siva and durga cult. This

purana contains many modern topics. It is almost an

encyclopedia in its contents dealing with subjects like,

Ayurveda, silpa sastra, jyotisha, poetics and politics. It also

describes the isanakalpa. It describes grammar and the

worship of Siva, durga and Ganesh.

7.13 Narada purana

The second purana named as ‘Narada Purana’ it only called as

‘Brihannaradiya purana’. This is in the group of ‘sattvik’, it

contains a synopsis of everything, and it describes

Purijagannatha, dwaraka, badrinatha etc., in this purana there

are 25000 verses.

Narada Purana comprised twenty five thousand Shlokas based

on Brihad Kalpa Katha. Narrated by Suta Maha Muni to

Shounaka Muni, the Purana was basically conceived by

Brahmarshi Narada himself but preached by Sanaka Brothers

to Narada. The earlier part of the Purana dealt with ‘Pravritti

Dharma’ and the second part was devoted to ‘Moksha

Dharma’. Sanandana described at length the Six Vedangaas as

Moksha Sadhanas and about the illustration of Suka Deva in

this context. The Third Part gave ‘Upadeshas’ to Narada by

Sanat Kumara about ‘Pashu paasha vimoksha’ and Mantras

concerning major Deities, Diksha, Puja procedures, Stotras

etc. The fourth Part provided details of tithi-wise and Maasa-

wise Vratas as also an Index of ‘Ashtadasha Puranas’. The

‘Uttara Bhaga’ of the Purana gave details of Ekadasha Vratas,

Vasishtha-Mandhata Samvada, King Rukmanga and Mohini,

curse to Mohini, her revival and her exposure to Tirtha

Yatras. Sincere study and ‘shravana’ of the Purana on Ashwin

Purnima followed by Puja to a Brahmana with daanas of

seven cows, clothing and so on would surely pave the way to

Salve

7.14 Padma purana

This is a huge puranam. It contains 55000 verses contains the

glory of srimad bhagavatam. It describes the creation,

geneology of kings, many sacred places of pilgrimage etc, in

this toomany ceremonies to be observed by the devotees are

described. It also contains the stories of Ramayana, story of

sakuntala, ekadasi mahatmyam etc. It also describes the

killing of madhu kaitabha demons, the greatness of Ganga,

the story of gayatri, the worship and worshipper rules are

contained.

The Padma Purana is contains five parts that as Srishti

khanda, Bhoomi khanda, Swarga khanda, Patala khanda and

Uttarakhanda. It describes the creation, genealogy of kings,

many sacred places of pilgrimage etc., it contains the stories

of Ramayana, story of Sakuntala, Ekadasi mahatmya etc.

The first part (srishti khanda) contains an explanation of

metaphysical knowledge in a dialogue style between

Bheeshma and sage Phulastya.

In Padmapurana describes the embodiment of SriHari.

According to Suta all the puranas are nothing but the

mediums through which SriHari manifests himself,

Brahmapurana is said to be the forehead of Srihari,

Padmapurana is said to be the heart, Vishnu purana is right-

arm, sivapurana is left-arm, srimd bhagavata purana is his

thigh, narada purana is his navel, markandeya purana is his

right-foot, agni purana is his left-foot, bhavishya purana is

left-knee, linga purana is said to be his right knee,

bramhavaivartapurana is right-ankle, varaha purana said to be

left-ankle, skandha purana is to be his hair on the body of Sri

Hari.

Vamanapurana is his skin, kurma purana is his back, matsya

purana is his stomach, garuda purana is his bone-narrow,

bramhanda purana is his bone. So all the puranas being

manifestation of different parts of sriharis body are vary

sacred and capable of bestowing salvation. [Ch3-5th para].

7.15 Linga purana

The linga purana describes the 28 incarnations of lord siva

and contains the greatness of linga rupa, different types of

worships and vratas. It also describes the universe.

7.16 Kurma purana

This purana narrated by visnu in his incarnation as a tortoise.

The avataras of varaha, narasimha are described. It contains

the conversation between Krishna and sun god, danvantari

and it describes the lakshmikalpa in 17000 verses. It also

describes the holy places like Varanasi, prayaga etc., and the

worship of siva and his incornations.

7.17 Garuda purana

This purana was narrated by lord visnu to his vehicle garuda

in 19000 verses. Methods of worship, feasts and creremonies

are described, it is also described about the soul after death

and the neral rites etc. description of tarsya kalpa is in this

purana.

7.18 Skandha purana

This is a very huge puranam consisting of 81000 verses

narrated by skandha. It describes the story of siva, the birth of

skandha, based on this purana the great poet kalidasa

composed kumara sambhava. The purana describrds somany

stotras like pradosha etc. kasha, kedara, reva, Vaishnava,

ultala, kumarika, brahma, brahmottara, avantika are the

khandas of this purana. Each part describes like satyanarayana

vrata in reva khanda, the greatness of venkatachala in

viashnava, the pilgrimage centre poori in utkala, the arunacala

mahatmya in kumarika, in brahma khanda the greatness of

rameswara temple, gokarna and pradosha pooja in

brahmottara khanda, the glory of mahaka and river kshipra

were also described in this purana.

8. Conclusion

All the puranas describe our culture, tradition, philosophies.

Those are very useful to the new generations. The Vedic and

puranic genealogies indicate a greater antiquity of the Vedic

culture.

9. References

1. Mastyapurana A-study, English-editor-Vasudeva

Agarwala- All India kshitiraj trust- Varanasi-first Edison,

1963.

2. Puranic enclyopaedia- A Comprehensive work with

Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature, by

Vettam Mani, Motilala banarsidas. Varanasi. Language:

English, Year of Pub.: Edition: 10th reprint, 2015.

3. The sacred books of Aryans, various oriental scholors,

oriental publications-Delhi, I.

4. Maharshi University of management- Vedic literature

collection. Online books.

5. The holy puranas, vol-iii, B.R, publishing corporation,

Delhi, second edition.

6. Padma Purana Pt. 1, Ancient Indian Tradition and

Mythology by N. A. Deshpande /G. P. Bhatt, Language:

English, Year of Pub.: Edition: 2nd reprint,

Motilalalbanarsi das-Varanasi. 2017, 39.