The Puranas

Overview

There are 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Upapuranas in the traditional Hindu corpus, each of which covers various aspects of theology, cosmology, mythology, philosophy, and instructions for life and devotion.

• Vedas and Upanishads: Written in a highly structured and often symbolic language, the Vedas and Upanishads can be complex and require a deep understanding of Sanskrit and Vedic terminology. They were initially intended for learned scholars and priests.
• Puranas: In contrast, the Puranas are written in a simpler, narrative style, making them accessible to the general public. The stories, legends, and parables allow ordinary people to understand moral and spiritual concepts without the need for complex ritual knowledge.

The 18 Mahapuranas

1. Brahma Purana – Creation, geography, and duties of Brahmins.
2. Padma Purana – Detailed descriptions of pilgrimage sites, mythology, and rituals.
3. Vishnu Purana – Life of Vishnu, creation myths, and genealogy of gods and sages.
4. Shiva Purana – Stories and worship of Lord Shiva.
5. Bhagavata Purana – Life and teachings of Krishna, Bhakti (devotion), and cosmology.
6. Narada Purana – Devotion to Vishnu, ethics, and various pilgrimage sites.
7. Markandeya Purana – Stories of the sage Markandeya, includes Devi Mahatmya.
8. Agni Purana – Covers various topics including rituals, astrology, and warfare.
9. Bhavishya Purana – Prophecies, history, and future events.
10. Brahmavaivarta Purana – Focus on the divine play of Krishna and Radha.
11. Linga Purana – Worship and symbolism of the Shiva Linga.
12. Varaha Purana – Stories of Vishnu’s Varaha (boar) avatar and creation.
13. Skanda Purana – Largest Purana; stories of Skanda (Kartikeya) and holy sites.
14. Vamana Purana – Stories of Vishnu’s Vamana avatar and creation.
15. Kurma Purana – Teachings from Vishnu’s Kurma (tortoise) avatar, rituals, and cosmology.
16. Matsya Purana – Narration of Matsya (fish) avatar, genealogy, and myths.
17. Garuda Purana – Afterlife, rituals, and the journey of the soul after death.
18. Brahmanda Purana – Cosmogony, solar system, and the Lalita Sahasranama.

The 18 Upapuranas

1. Sanatkumara Purana – Devotion, stories, and rituals.
2. Naradiya Purana – Teachings of Narada on devotion and ethics.
3. Shiva Rahasya Purana – Worship and stories of Shiva.
4. Durvasa Purana – Stories and teachings attributed to sage Durvasa.
5. Nandi Purana – Dedicated to Nandi, Shiva’s vehicle and attendant.
6. Samba Purana – Story of Samba, son of Krishna.
7. Kapila Purana – Teachings of sage Kapila on Samkhya philosophy.
8. Vayu Purana – Focuses on Vayu (wind god) and cosmology.
9. Bhargava Purana – Contains stories of Bhrigu and his lineage.
10. Varuna Purana – Associated with the god Varuna and creation myths.
11. Kalika Purana – Dedicated to the goddess Kali and Tantric practices.
12. Vishnudharmottara Purana – Extension of Vishnu Purana, covers arts, iconography.
13. Maheshwara Purana – Devotion to Maheshwara (Shiva) and stories of his devotees.
14. Bhagavata Upapurana – Devotion and teachings on various avatars.
15. Suryapurana – Worship of Surya (sun god) and stories of solar deities.
16. Vishnudharma Purana – Details on ethics, duties, and the worship of Vishnu.
17. Devibhagavata Purana – Devotion to Devi (Goddess), includes Devi Bhagavata.
18. Ganesh Purana – Stories and worship of Lord Ganesha.