Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is primarily focused on Vishnu and his avatars, including Krishna. It is one of the most important Puranas.
Sattva Purana·Primary Deity: Vishnu·Vaishnava tradition·~23,000 verses · 126 chapters·Narrated by Sage Parashara to Maitreya Muni
- Vishnu Purana is considered one of the most important Mahapuranas for Vaishnavas.
- Contains approximately 23,000 verses across 6 Amshas (sections).
- Classified as a Sattva Purana with Lord Vishnu as the Supreme Being.
- Narrated by Sage Parashara (father of Veda Vyasa) to Maitreya Muni.
- One of the earliest Puranas to be compiled — highly systematic and philosophical.
- Contains the Vishnu Sahasranama (thousand names of Vishnu).
- Includes complete stories of Krishna, Dhruva, Prahlada, and other great devotees.
- Philosophical framework is Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism).
Structural Organization
AmshaSection / Book (6 total)→AdhyayaChapter→ShlokaVerse
Example: Vishnu Purana, Amsha 1, Chapter 1, Verse 1
Key Topics Covered
Creation
Primary and secondary creation of the universe
Prahlada's Story
Devotee protected by Vishnu from his father Hiranyakashipu
Dhruva's Story
Child devotee who became the Pole Star
Krishna Lila
Life and deeds of Lord Krishna
Royal Genealogies
Solar and lunar dynasties
Vishnu Sahasranama
Thousand names and glories of Vishnu
Kali Yuga
Characteristics of the current age
Moksha
Liberation through devotion to Vishnu
Important Deities
Vishnu / Narayana
Supreme Being, primary deity
Lakshmi
Divine consort, goddess of prosperity
Garuda
Vishnu's eagle vehicle
Brahma
Creator born from Vishnu's lotus
Famous Stories & Episodes
Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu
Devotee saved by Narasimha avatar
Dhruva's Tapas
Five-year-old prince becomes eternal Pole Star
Krishna's Mathura Story
Life of Krishna from Mathura to Kurukshetra
Samudra Manthan
Churning of the cosmic ocean for amrita
Featured Shlokas
+ Add ShlokaThe Five Characteristics of a Purana
Vishnu Purana · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.4
सर्गश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मन्वन्तराणि च। वंशानुचरितं चेति पुराणं पञ्चलक्षणम्॥
sargaś ca pratisargaś ca vaṁśo manvantarāṇi ca vaṁśānucaritaṁ ceti purāṇaṁ pañca-lakṣaṇam
A Purāṇa is defined by five characteristics: sarga (primary creation), pratisarga (secondary or repeated creations), vaṃśa (genealogies), manvantara (epochs of Manus), and vaṃśānucarita (histories of royal dynasties).
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