The 18 Purans – Treasure In Hinduism

Puran

In Hinduism, the Puranas are holy books that have been around for thousands of years and contain a lot of spiritual knowledge and stories. In Hinduism, these texts are some of the oldest and most important. They come from the rich history of ancient India. And the fact that the word 'Purana' in Sanskrit means 'ancient' or 'old' shows that they are still important today. Many people believe that the sage Vyasa put together the Puranas. Vyasa is also said to have put together the Vedas. The books for the Puranas were written over a number of centuries, with the first ones appearing around 300 BCE and more being added until the Middle Ages. There is no doubt that the Puranas had a big effect on Hindu religious philosophy, mythology, and society as a whole, even though scholars still disagree about who wrote them and when.

Puran - Holy Book Of Hinduism | Photo: AboutUttarakhand.com

Details About Puran

The Puranas are a large group of holy books that talk about many different subjects, such as many different gods, cosmologies, and stories. This collection is made up of 18 big manuscripts and a lot of smaller ones. The Vishnu Purana, the Shiva Purana, and the Devi Bhagavata Purana are the most well-known. They all talk about how to worship the holy feminine. These writings are full of stories. They show how the universe was made, the stories of gods and heroes, moral lessons, and talks between wise men and women. Through myths and allegories, the Puranas explain the main ideas of dharma (righteousness), karma (action), and moksha (freedom). These ideas help people become wise and live a good life.

A lot of knowledge about ancient Indian culture can be found in the Puranas. This includes history, geography, and genealogy. They shed light on the religious and social practices of ancient societies by vividly describing holy places, rituals, and festivals. There are also a lot of mythical stories, folktales, and folklore in the Puranas that are interesting to both researchers and followers. These stories are woven in and out of the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics. They add to the complexity of Hindu mythology and show how the religion's literary practices are linked. To get a better understanding of Hinduism, read the Puranas. These books are very important for passing on intellectual lessons. These books go into more detail about many ideas, such as bhakti (devotion), yoga (spiritual practice), and Vedanta (the conclusion of the Vedas).

Types of Puran

Hinduism has 18 major books called Puranas. These are called Mahapuranas. They include books like the Vishnu Purana, the Shiva Purana, the Bhagavata Purana, and others. Each one praises a different god and explains mythology, cosmology, and sacred practices. Additionally, there are many Upapuranas that are additional texts to the Mahapuranas and add to Hinduism's religious and cultural environment.

The puranas are an old type of text that keep Hindu mythological, religious, and historical stories alive. These books are put into many groups based on what they're about, what they're about in general, and which gods they praise the most.

The following are some well-known types of Puranas:

Mahapuranas: The main texts and most important parts of the Puranas are the eighteen books that make up the Mahapuranas. Stories, folklore, science, religion, mythology, and the family trees of gods, goddesses, saints, and kings are just some of the things that are talked about. Some of these are the Vishnu, Shiva, and Bhagavata Puranas.

Upapuranas: There are other books besides the main Puranas. They are called Upapuranas. The stories in the Mahapuranas talk about similar things, but they often focus on specific traits or differences between regions. Two such books are the Varaha Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana.

Sthala Puranas: The Sthala Puranas are collections of holy stories from the Indian subcontinent. They are about specific holy places or pilgrimage spots. Their stories bring places like temples, rivers, mountains, and more to life. For instance, the Skanda Purana spends a lot of time talking about Lord Skanda's (Kartikeya) holy places and sites.

Samhita Puranas: Samhita Puranas are long books that are more like encyclopaedias or compendiums. They cover a lot of different subjects, from rituals to the universe. A lot of the time, they go into great depth about religious ceremonies, rites, and rituals. Works like the Brihannaradiya Purana and the Narada Purana are part of the Samhita Puranas.

Pancalakshana Puranas: The 'pancalakshana' school of thought focuses on five main ideas in its puranas: creation (sarga), dissolution (pralaya), genealogy (vamsa), manvantara (the rule of the Manus), and royal dynasties (vamsanucarita). Some of the Pancalakshana Puranas are the Vayu Purana and the Vishnu Purana.

All of the Puranas add to Hinduism's huge body of spirituality and mythology. They also shed light on the values, traditions, and history of old India.

Some Facts About Puran

Ancient Writings: The Puranas are a collection of holy Hindu texts that have been around for a very long time. Some say they were written as early as 3000 BCE. They are important parts of Hindu sacred writings, along with the Vedas and the Epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata).

Classes: The Puranas can be broken down into two main groups: the Mahapuranas and the Upapuranas. The Mahapuranas are made up of eighteen main texts. There are also smaller books called Upapuranas that add to the major ones with more stories and information.

Author: People have generally thought that the sage Vyasa put together the Vedas and wrote the Puranas. Still, other sages and seers are credited as writers in the works, which shows that they are part of a shared story tradition that is always changing.

Content There are many sacred books called the Puranas that talk about many topics, such as the universe, mythology, religion, family history, philosophy, rituals, and ethics. They talk about things like the Big Bang, how the gods and goddesses came to be, the lives of great heroes and rulers, and what sacred events mean.

Deities: Some Puranas focus on Vishnu and Shiva more than others, while others give more attention to Devi, the divine feminine, or other gods. For instance, the Vishnu Purana says that Vishnu is the greatest god and the one who created the world, and the Shiva Purana says that Shiva is awesome.

Regional Variation: The style, content, and focus of different Puranas depend on where they are written. Even though all Puranas have the same set of stories and gods, some texts make the religious and cultural details of the author's home area stand out more.

Importance: The Puranas play many roles in Hinduism. If you believe in them, they will teach you about religion, morals, and philosophy. They also pass on the historical stories, myths, and tales that form the base of Hindu identity and the way the world works.

Transmission: It is said that the Puranas were first told to younger people by elders, entertainers, and priests. Many of these stories were finally put down on paper, which made sure they would live on and be shared.

Influence: The Puranas are important books that have had a big impact on Hindu society, literature, art, and philosophy. Their impact on Hindu society's creative output goes back hundreds of years and includes a huge number of literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works.

Continuing Relevance: The Puranas are important because millions of Hindus around the world still read and study them, even though they were written thousands of years ago. In our time, their lessons are still helpful for people of all ages in terms of spirituality and morality.

Cat : Spiritual, CatF : Spiritual

To Conclude

Lastly, the Puranas are seen as treasure chests of Hindu history and knowledge. They show the timeless facts and rich cultural diversity of India in the past. Hindu sacred texts tell stories about gods, sages, and heroes that help us understand the morals and spiritual goals that have changed Hindu culture over the years. The Puranas have stood the test of time, giving many generations of people wisdom and motivation. They encourage devotion, study, and cultural creativity. As long as there are people who believe in the Puranas and their stories, they will continue to be an important part of Hindu religious and cultural identity.

---

The pictures displayed on this website are usually royalty free stock photos taken from Unsplash, iStock, Pixabay, Pngtree, and other sources. We appreciate the work of the individuals who own them. This is to thank them for their work and let them know how much it is appreciated.