Purd^a —‘A tract of literature recording ancient events.* The terms itihdsa and Purdria overlap, as both deal with ancient events. Amarasimha (5th Cent A.D.) distinguishes Purd^a as ‘a work characterised by five topics viz. Sarga (creation), Pratisarga (re-creation after the dissolution of the universe), variiia (dynasties of gods, Prajapatis etc.), Manvantara (aeons pre¬ sided over by Manus), Varhsdnucarita {history of descendants of the solar 2 Kurma Pur ana