They go on to emphasize the devotional aspect of Yoga. Puranas are the most important religious texts in the Bhakti Yoga tradition. They contain the essence of spiritual teachings and complex yogic philosophies of the ancient Vedic texts. Some are dedicated to Gods, and others are dedicated to Goddesses. It should be appreciated that the Puranas tell the Supreme Truth to one and all in a very simple manner.Īll the Puranas are dedicated to certain deities. The Puranas endeavor to bring people closer to the Gods. The Puranas belong to the class of Itihasas (the Ramayana and the Mahabharata). Vamsa – It gives the histories of dynasties such as the solar and lunarĪll the Puranas are related to the class of Suhrit-Sammitas or the Friendly Treatises.Manvantara – It describes the various eras.
Pratisarga – the cyclical process where destruction and creation occurs repeatedly.Sarga – It describes the creation of Universe.In fact, there are five characteristic features of Maha Puranas. Karmic links that exist between the Deities, Sages, Kings and living beings.However, some other Puranas (such as the Bhagavata Purana) contains five more characteristics thereby making a list to 10. Legends during the time of various Kings.Genealogy of the Gods, Sages, and Kings.Typically, Puranas cover five major topics. In fact, it is believed that there were approximately 64 Puranas: The remaining (Six) are Tamasic or Shiva Puranas and glorify Lord Shiva.Six are Rajasic or Brahma Puranas which glorify Lord Brahma.Six are Satvic or Vaishnava Puranas which glorify Lord Vishnu.The 18 main Puranas have been divided into three categories and have been named after the Deity: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Together they contain over 400,000 verses (slokas). There are as much as 18 main Puranas and 18 minor Puranas (known as Upapuranas). In fact, the Puranas contain a wealth of information on yogic practices as well as different branches of spiritual practice. The Bhagavata Purana preaches the practice of Bhakti Yoga. In fact, the first Purana was compiled between the 3rd and 10th centuries C.E.īy far the most famous Purana stands to be the Bhagavata Purana that narrates the childhood and early life of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Hindu God, Lord Vishnu. It contains narratives of heroes and demigods and even the genealogies of the kings. It describes Hindu cosmology and geography. The Puranas contain a vivid description of the history of the Universe from creation to destruction. Puranas are encyclopedic and cover various topics including cosmogony, cosmology, folk tales, pilgrimages, theology, medicine, temples, grammar, philosophy, astronomy, and even the genealogies of Gods, Goddesses, Kings, Heroes, Sages, and Demigods.