The Puranas are widely revered Hindu spiritual texts. They comprise descriptions of the universe, from its creation to destruction. The Puranas also include the origins of various deities, kings, idols, and sages.
Some of the Puranas preach cosmology, geography, and Hindu ideology. These holy texts tell us mythological stories of gods and goddesses.
You can learn about the deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati, Durga, etc, from the sacred text of Purana.
As per legends, the Puranas are based on five matters or facts. These are the preliminary creation of the universe, secondary creation after systematic collapse, the origin of gods and patriarchs, the regimes of the Manus, considered the first humans, and the history of the various dynasties.
There are a total of 18 main Puranas, also known as Mahapuranas. Each Purana tells stories ranging from mythology to geographic narrations. Let’s go through the origin, significance & different types of Hindu Puranas.
The Puranas are amongst the most famous Hindu literary texts, written originally in Sanskrit, from the 4th century BCE to about 1,000 A.D. The word “Purana” refers to ‘old’.
The ancient texts of Puranas are generally considered as documented consequences of the epics, the Ramayana & the Mahabharata. Even the epic Mahabharata, categorized as a history, is sometimes considered a Purana.
Some scholars suggest that the composition of Puranas began when the composition of the Mahabharata ended. We can see the characteristics of Puranas in the final stages of the Mahabharata.
Especially in the Harivamsa, which is an appendix to the Mahabharata, the life of Shri Krishna or Hari is described. So, it is sometimes considered a Purana.
The main topic of the Puranas is the regimes and positions of the gods. According to the ancient Sanskrit lexicographer, Amarasinha, from the fifth or sixth century A.D, the Puranas have five goals, or Panca Laksana.
These are the creation of the universe, its devastation & renovation, the origin of gods, the rules of the Manus, initiating the generations called Manvantaras, and the history of the various ethnicities of kings.
No one Purana can be defined as depicting all five of the above distinctive characteristics in detail. However, sometimes the Vishnu Purana is considered to be the most appropriate, resembling the classic description.
Besides, during the initial period of the composition of Purana, the belief in particular deities was established as one of the main influences of Hinduism.
So, to some extent, the Puranas can be defined as a form of sectarian religious literature. If some Puranas demonstrate devotion to Shiva, others show devotion to Lord Vishnu.
This classification has created the 18 Mahapuranas in Hinduism.
SHIVA PURANAS | VISHNU PURANAS
There are eighteen (18) main Puranas, and also there is an equal number of secondary or Upapuranas. The categorization of Puranas is based on the standard triple (3) division of the gunas or qualities.
These are purity (sattva), impurity or ignorance (tamas), and passion (rajas).
1. Sattva (Purity): Thus, in the group of the first 6 Puranas, the quality of sattva is the main dominator. These are Vishnu, Bhagavata, Narada, Garuda, Padma, and Varaha Purana. In all these Puranas, Lord Vishnu emerges as the Supreme creator.
2. Ignorance or Impurity (Tamas): The second group of puranas, also 6 in number, depict the qualities of ignorance or impurity (tamas). These are Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Shiva, Skanda, and Agni Purana. In all these Puranas, Lord Shiva emerges as the Supreme God.
3. Rajas or Blind Passion: In the third set of 6 puranas, the quality of rajas or blind passion is depicted. These are Brahma, Brahmanda, Brahmavaivarta, Markandeya, Bhavishya, and Vamana Purana.
The list of 18 Puranas sometimes expands to twenty, including the Vayu Purana and the Harivamsa.
Among all these Puranas, the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana, also known as the Bhagavatam best describe devotional literature. The Bhagavata Purana narrates the supreme work of Lord Shri Krishna.
Since each of the 18 major Puranas mentions each other, it is fair to deduce that all the Puranas were reworked at one fact. Besides, their length differs extensively.
The Skanda comprises 80,000 couplets, while the Brahma and Vamana Puranas have 10,000 couplets each. Let’s learn in detail about 18 Hindu Puranas.
It is one of the most sacred books for Hindus, especially the devotees of Lord Vishnu. The book tells about Lord Narayana, his avatars, and a detailed story of Lord Shri Krishna.
Composed by Rishi Vyasadeva, the book comprises eighteen thousand verses, divided into 12 cantos.
The Shrimad Bhagavatam is a portrayal that largely fell light on the life and teachings of Lord Krishna, focusing on devotion and mythology.
The text is famous for recognizing Sri Krishna as the ultimate truth, claiming that all Gods such as Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, and Ganesha are all the same & are the manifestations of Sri Krishna.
The Vishnu Purana is the most revered among the 18 Maha Puranas. It is regarded as one of the most significant Puranas. So, it is also called Puranaratna, meaning gem of Puranas.
This sacred book comprises a conversation between sage Parashara and his devotee Maitreya. Vishnu Purana is divided into six parts.
Its main topics involved the creation of the universe, narratives of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, and his deeds as human forms.
Integrating into the Puranic convention, Vishnu Purana also presents the most glorious Vedantic realities through mythical stories.
One of the most revered among 18 main Puranas, the Brahma Purana is considered the first Maha Purana in every anthology. It's one of the richest compositions of Hindu texts in Sanskrit also known as Adi Purana.
Brahma Purana is also famous as Saura Purana because several book chapters addressed the Sun God. Moreover, this Hindu Purana describes cosmology to a wide extent.
Mythology, Genealogy, and cosmic time cycles are also discussed in detail, covering 18 chapters of the book. Brahma Purana also includes several inspiring stories that involve the Puranic genre of Hindu literature.
Padma means lotus, the flower in which Lord Brahma appears. A big part of the book also praises Lord Vishnu and tells about his actions. The other significant deities described in Padma Purana are Lord Shiva and Goddess.
Padma Purana, which is a Vaishnava Purana written by Sage Veda Vyasa comprises 55,000 verses, divided into 7 sections with 697 chapters.
In this rich literary text, you can read about the tale of Vamana Avatar, the 5th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Padma Purana also includes the impressive narratives of Tuladhar & Jajali, the Nandi Dhenu, etc., which are nicely described by the legends.
Another fascinating story of Padma Purana is of king Prabhanjana. He was cursed by a deer to live as a tiger for a hundred years. The book also describes the creators of four Sampradayas to appear in the Kali-yuga.
They are Sri, Brahma, Rudra, and Sanaka Rishi. It is said that these four sages will emerge in the Kali Yug to cleanse the earth by setting the four Vaishnava Sampradayas.
The book largely tells about Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati. However, Shiva Purana also reveres other deities. Initially composed by Maharishi Ved Vyas, Shiva Purana comprises 12 Samhitas with 1,00,000 verses.
It is the topmost among all the sacred Hindu mythological texts. It is the most significant text to learn about the Supreme God Lord Shiva.
The book narrates the glory one can earn from the devotion of Lord Shiva. It also states how the kindness of Lord Shiva can free one from all sins and help reach the supreme abode.
Shiva Purana is a blessed book that provides wisdom of the sacred deed of the almighty Lord Shiva. Anyone from a beginner to a wise person can read the Shiva Purana to know about the ultimate knowledge and glory of This supreme God of Hinduism.
From Shiva Purana, you can learn about the origin of the lingam, also known as Shiva-linga. It is the cosmic pillar or Stambha of fire without beginning or end, which is the cause of all realities.
Shiva is depicted as arising from the lingam, the heavenly pillar of fire, demonstrating his dominance over the Gods Brahma and Vishnu.
The Narada Purana consists of two books of Vaishnavism composed in Sanskrit. One is a Maha Purana while the other is a Upa Purana, also known as Brhan Naradiya Purana.
From this Maha Purana, we can learn about various festivals and rituals celebrated in Vaishnavism. Several sections of the book talk about the significance of 5 sacred Hindu rivers, various pilgrimages, and religious destinations, such as the Prayāga & Kashi.
Composed of more than 25,000 verses divided into 207 chapters, Narada Purana is the third longest Purana and includes several categories of topics. Narada Muni is the mind-born son of Lord Brahma, who is also his teacher.
He was born from the thought of Lord Brahmā. Similarly, Vasiṣṭha was born from breathing, Bhṛgu from his touch, Dakṣa from a thumb, and Kratu from the hand of Lord Brahma.
Devarshi Narad is known as a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He is empowered to travel across the Trilok, Earth, space, and the underground realms.
Narad Muni is aware of all the secrets of the Gods, demons, and humans. Thus, he acts as the messenger between the three worlds.
The Markandeya Purana is centered on Markandeya, a sage in Hindu mythology. So he is the main character in two stories narrated in the book, one connected to Lord Shiva and the other to Lord Vishnu.
This Purana is also notable for describing the significance of Ma Shakti or Devi Mahatmya. It praises Goddess Shakti as the ultimate reality and creator of the universe.
Thus, it is a revered text of Shaktism related to the Hindu Goddess with a great dedication toward the feminine.
As per Markandeya Purana, the manifestations of the goddess are Durga, who emerged to kill the two demons, Shumbha & Nishumbha; Dashabhuja; Singhavahini; Mahishamardini, destroyer of the demon Mahishasur; Jagaddhatri, the mother of the universe.
With 9000 verses, comprising 137 Chapters, the Markandeya Purana is a source of ancient Indian therapeutic herbs. With great healing properties linked to the Goddess, all the herbs provide myriad health benefits within spiritual and Ayurvedic contexts.
One of the famous stories of the Markandeya Purana is the tale of the manifestation of immortality. Markandeya, a devoted worshiper of Lord Shiva, was destined to live only for 16 years.
On completion of his 16th year, the god of death Yama came to Markandeya, who was offering his prayer to Lord Shiva. Noticing his dedication and perseverance, Lord Shiva appeared at the place and conquered Yama.
Then Lord Shiva granted Markandeya an eternal life. From that day, Markandey became well-known as “Chiranjeevi," or the immortal person. He persisted in dedicating himself to Lord Shiva.
The book focuses on various Hindu beliefs such as Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, etc. The text covers all sections impartially without relying on a particular faith.
Agni Purana describes the meaning of dreams as per Hindu mythology. In chapter 7 of the book, Lord Rama conveyed this knowledge to Laxmana and Sita, while they were exiled to the forest.
It is the legend of the Ramayana as narrated in the Agni Purana. The Sage Valmiki wrote this part of Ramayana after hearing the story from the sage Narada.
Agni Purana, one of the eighteen Maha Puranas, includes definitions and details of different incarnations (avatars) of Lord Vishnu. The book is titled after Agni because originally, he recited the stories to the sage Vasishta.
Later, Vasishta conveyed it to Vyasa, who composed all the Vedas, Puranas, and many other mythological texts. According to the Anushasana Parva, Sage Bhrigu once cursed Lord Agni Agn to 'gobble everything in his way'.
Worried about being cursed, Lord Agni hid himself. This set the other gods in the dark, as no religious activities could be done without Agni.
It is one of the eighteen primary Sanskrit creations in the Puranic genre of Hinduism. The title Bhavishya refers to the future, which means that it is a book including future predictions.
There are four parts, or Parva in the Bhavishya Purana. These are Brahma Parva, Madhyam Parva, Pratisarga Parva, and Uttara Parva. The Madhyam Parva again is divided into three parts, while the Pratisarga has four parts.
There are a total of 485 chapters covering the four main sections. Unlike the other Puranas denoting ancient history, Bhavishya Purana is a blend of the Past and the Future.
This feature provides this book a distinct position among the 18 Maha Puranas. The Sri Vaishnava sect recognizes Vishnu as the Brahman, while Krishna-centered practices define Para Brahman with Sri Krishna himself as God.
As per Ramanujacharya, Brahman is a person. Indeed, he is the ultimate individual, creator, and God, who directs souls to salvation.
This Maha Purana comprising 18,000 verses is divided into four sections, describing Hindu deities Radha and Krishna. It narrates many stories about the life of Sri Krishna.
Brahmavaivarta refers to the transition of Brahman, who merges with Sri Krishna. Here, the Brahman as Krishna creates the universe, its nature, and its evolution, where nature is demonstrated through the legend of Radha and Krishna.
Multiple versions of the Brahma Vaivarta Purana exist and are asserted to be part of manuscripts of the Brahma Kaibarta Purana. Moreover, A new version of this Maha Purana was supposedly composed in Bengal of the Indian subcontinent.
Later, it was modified in South India. The mythology and stories of Brahma Vaivarta Purana Is are largely admired by the followers of Sri Krishna. It also has a great influence on Indian art and culture as we often experience the bliss of Raslila through Hindu paintings and dance drama.
The text is also unique in onoring the feminine characteristics of God through Radha. It says that all women are embodiments of the sacred female & co-creators of the universe.
So, any abuse to a woman is an abuse to Goddess Radha. Further, Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Radha, and Savitri are identical and are noted as the manifestations of Prakruti.
It is the fifth Purana describing the superiority of Lord Shiva and the origin of Ling-puja. The Linga Purana says that Lord Shiva is without shape, color, and odor. It means he is beyond touch and change.
The origin of the universe is the manifest of shapeless Linga, a merger of constant rules and ever-changing nature. This Maha Purana has five parts.
These are Descriptions of the creation, incarnations of Lord Shiva, the embodiment of Lord Nandishwar, Dhruva - the supreme devotee, and Story of Upamanyu.
All these sections talk about various mantras, rules of worship, the origin of various deities, and types of Yoga. You can also learn legendary stories like the Wedding of Lord Shiva, assignments of various Lordships by Lord Brahma, sacrifice of sage Dadhichi.
As per the Linga Purana, a vibrant Shivaling emerged after the Maha Pralaya. All the Vedas and various deities including Brahma and Vishnu emerged from this Linga.
The present aspect of the worship of Shivling and idols appears to be a development of this Purana.
This ancient Sanskrit text is one of the eighteen Maha Puranas admired in Hinduism. It belongs to the Hindu literature glorifying Lord Vishnu.
However, the book also has several chapters devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti, where she is addressed as Brahmi, Vaishnavi, and Raudri.
Lord Vishnu manifested as Varaha to rescue the earth. So, this Purana is also known as Vaishnava Purana. The book contains a thorough description of the Varaha Avatar and related teachings & legenda.
Sage Veda Vyas has given a precise depiction of many religious expeditions, rituals, sacrifices, offerings, etc. in this book.
He explained how to worship Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati, and also narrated the glory of the Aditya pilgrimages.
Varaha Purana also provides a detailed narration of the seven Moksha Dayini or pilgrimages to attain salvation. These are Varanasi, Mathura, Ayodhya, Haridwar, Kanchipuram, Ujjain, and Dwarka.
The Skanda Purana is a massive collection of ancient Hindu literary scripts with over 81,000 verses. They were found by Haraprasad Shastri and Cecil Bendall in 1898 in a library in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The oldest manuscripts dated to the 4th century BCE were written on palm leaves. Some components of the Purana have also been discovered in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India.
Some parts of the Skanda Purana describe various pilgrimages and thus act as a guide for those who want to visit temples & religious sites in India.
Other parts focus more on devotion and discuss religion, dharma, and absolute knowledge. A large section of the book is also dedicated to legendary stories.
Skanda Purana refers to the God of war Skanda or Kartikeya son of Goddess Durga & Shiva. The book has seven parts or khandas. The first book known as the Mahatmya, narrates the glory of Kartikeya and his role in the universe.
It also tells the narrative of his birth and the different wars he battled against demons. Numerous temples devoted to Lord Kartikeya are founded on tales and mythologies from the Skanda Purana.
The Skanda Purana has been translated into several languages, including English. It is widely explored by scholars of Hinduism for spiritual studies.
The Vamana Purana is a sacred book of Hindu mythology written in Sanskrit. One of the eighteen Maha Puranas, it is about the Vamana incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
However, the current enduring manuscripts of Vamana Purana are more intensely focused on Lord Shiva. It also includes chapters revering other Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
The main stories of Vamana Purana pertain to Lord Vishnu and his Vaaman manifestation. Sage Pulastya narrated the legend of Vamana Purana while delivering explanations to the inquiry of Devarshi Narada.
It also acquaints the readers with the virtues of morality and justice. This Maha Purana also includes the legend of notable disciples like Prahlad, the salvation of Gajendra (elephant), etc.
The details of Kurma Purana were first described by Lord Vishnu during his incarnation of Kurma to King Indradyumna. Then Lord Vishnu again narrated the story to the deities Indra and Narad, etc at the time of the churning of the ocean.
The Kurma Purana has 17,000 verses divided into two parts, the eastern and the northern parts. This Purana also includes four Sanhitas, and it discusses the main features of Puranas, Sarg, Pratisarg, Vansh, Manvantar, and Vanshanuchrit.
The main legends of Kurma Purana are about the churning of the ocean. This churning resulted in the emergence of Mahalakshmi along with the Parijat tree, Kaustubh gem, Dhanvantari Vaidya, Kamdhenu, Airavat elephant, Panchajanya Conch, Amrita Kalash, etc.
It is among the oldest and most well-preserved Sanskrit literature in Hinduism. The book comes under the Vaishnavism sect named after the half-human and half-fish avatar of Lord Vishnu.
The Matsya Purana, like other Puranas, includes multiple sections, covering the concept of mythology, legends, cosmology, genealogy, moral teachings, etc.
Matsya Purana is considered to have been told by Lord Vishnu himself to the sage Manu, who was the ancestor of humankind according to Hindu legend.
The book largely concentrates on the embodiments and acts of Lord Vishnu and covers different characteristics of the universe, creation, and the cyclic method of devastation.
Garuda Purana belongs to the group of the first six Puranas. After the Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana, Garuda Purana is the third in the aspect of superiority and significance.
This Purana was told by sage Kashyapa to Garuda, and later Sage Veda Vyasa composed it for humankind. Garuda Purana provides extreme significance to the human body and its goal of becoming the disciple of God.
The second part of the book, also called Uttarakhand and Pretakalpa, contains information on funeral rituals and life after death.
This ancient Hindu literary text provides an understanding of different parts of life, spirituality, and the universe. One of the eighteen Mahapuranas, the Brahmanda Purana contains a wide array of wisdom, about mythology, cosmology, origin, geography, and more.
This Purana is a collection of chronologies, mythologies, the origin of the universe, various rituals, and philosophical lessons. It provides a complete reality about the universe and its different extents.
Like the Mahapuranas, there are 18 total Upapuranas in Hinduism, which are equally significant as the Maha Puranas. These include Sanat-kumara, Narashima, Brihan-naradiya, Siva-rahasya, Durvasa, Kapila, Vamana, Bhargava, Kalika, Samba, Nandi, Surya, Parasara, Vasishtha, Ganesha, Mudgala, and Hamsa.
Conclusion:
Puranas occupy a significant place in the practice of Hinduism. There are 18 Maha Puranas that we have mentioned in the above article and an equal number of Upa Puranas.
The rich literary texts originally written in Sanskrit have been translated into several languages including, English, Hindi, Kannar, Telugu, Bengali, etc. So, you can conveniently read the Puranas in any language and earn divine knowledge.
Your email address will not be published *
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist