The Hindu Scripture series:- 3. The Purana.

The Purana:-

         The Purana are ancient Hindu eulogizing Hindu god's colony mainly trinity gods. texts  greatest informational encyclopedic ancient texts are Purana in Hindu culture. Puranas can be found in Jainism and Hinduism. It has wide range of topics it covers so many topics based on myths, legends, and other traditional lore. first it was composed in Sanskrit and regional languages. most of the Purana are named after Hindu gods like Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, and some goddesses.

The Purana has so many topics or wide range of topics like cosmogony, cosmology, genealogies of gods, goddesses, kings, heroes, sagas and demigods, folk tales, pilgrims, temples, medicines(Ayurveda), astronomy, grammar, mineralogy, humor, love-stories as well as theology and philosophy. the content is highly inconsistent across the Purana.

         there are 18 Mahapurana and 18 Uppuranas with 400,000 verses, composed by many authors over the centuries. The Purana inspires major Hindu traditions and regional festivals, cultures. The Bhagavat Purana is considered as the one greatest Purana.

          The Purana were presented orally before it being written. it considered as the saga Vyasa has credit to compose the Purana in written form.

           there is no definite time of composition before 16th century. according to the study of Wendy Doniger. she claimed that the Markandya Purana is composed in 250 CE with portion dated to 550 CE. also the Matsya Purana was composed in 250-500 CE. Vaya Purana has created in 350 CE. Harlvamsa and Vishnu Purana was composed during 450 CE, and Brahmanda Purana was composed in 450-900 CE, Karma and Linga Purana was composed in 550-850 CE and 600-1000 CE respectively.

The 18 Mahapurana has been divided in three philosophical grouped named as sattva, rajas and tamas. each group consists six Purana.

Sattva (truth):-

vishnu Purana, Bhagvata Purana, Naradeya Purana, Garuda Purana, Padma Purana, Varah Purana.

Rajas (passion):-

Bramhanda Purana, Bramha-vaivarta Purana, Markandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vamana Purana, Bramha Purana.

Tamas (ignorance):-

Matsya Purana, Karma Purana, Linga Purana, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana. 

we will discuss sattva, rajas and tamas in another blog.