Puranas (18)
The Puranas are a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics particularly myths, legends, and other traditional lore. There are 18 major Puranas.
Sattva Purana·Primary Deity: All Major Deities·Smriti tradition·400,000+ total verses · 0 chapters·Narrated by Veda Vyasa (compiler)
- The Puranas are a vast collection of 18 Mahapuranas — ancient Sanskrit texts encyclopedic in scope, covering cosmology, mythology, genealogy of gods and sages, ethics, and devotional paths.
- Composed between 300–1200 CE, they are attributed to Veda Vyasa and serve as the primary medium through which Vedic philosophy reached common people.
- Each Purana contains the five hallmarks (Pancha Lakshana): Sarga (creation), Pratisarga (re-creation), Vamsha (genealogy of gods), Manvantara (cosmic time cycles), and Vamsyanucharita (histories of dynasties).
- The 18 Mahapuranas are classified by the three Gunas — 6 Sattvic (Vishnu-oriented), 6 Rajasic (Brahma-oriented), and 6 Tamasic (Shiva-oriented).
- Together they contain over 400,000 verses and represent the largest body of religious literature in the world.
- Major Puranas include the Bhagavata Purana (most widely read, 18,000 verses), Shiva Purana (24,000 verses), Skanda Purana (largest, 81,000 verses), and Vishnu Purana.
- They shaped popular Hinduism by transmitting stories of Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Devi, and the avatars of Vishnu across generations.
Structural Organization
MahapuranaMajor Purana (18 texts)→UpapuranaMinor Purana (18 subsidiary)→Sthala PuranaLocal temple/place lore
Example: Bhagavata Purana → Skandha (Book) → Adhyaya (Chapter) → Shloka (Verse)
Key Topics Covered
Sarga & Pratisarga
Creation and periodic re-creation of the universe
Vamsha
Genealogies of gods, sages, and royal dynasties
Manvantara
Cosmic time cycles ruled by Manus
Bhakti
Devotional paths to Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi
Avatars of Vishnu
Ten principal incarnations (Dashavatara)
Dharma & Ethics
Social, personal, and ritual duties
Important Deities
Vishnu / Krishna
Primary deity of Sattvic Puranas; Bhagavata, Vishnu, Garuda Puranas
Shiva
Primary deity of Tamasic Puranas; Shiva, Linga, Skanda Puranas
Brahma
Primary deity of Rajasic Puranas; Brahma, Brahmanda, Bhavisya Puranas
Devi / Shakti
Worshipped throughout the Puranas as cosmic mother
Famous Stories & Episodes
Dashavataras
Ten incarnations of Vishnu from Matsya to Kalki narrated across Puranas
Samudra Manthan
Churning of the cosmic ocean; narrated in Bhagavata, Vishnu, and Matsya Puranas
Story of Prahlada
Devotee of Vishnu saved from his demon father; Bhagavata Purana
Shiva & Sati / Parvati
Cosmic love story and origin of Shakti shrines; Shiva Purana