The following is a list of the 18 maha-puranas along with the important subjects contained in each purana.

Puranas with Lord Vishnu as the Predominating Deity (Sattva Guna):

1) Vishnu Purana – 23,000 verses.

Stories of various devotees; a description of varnasrama; the six angas of the Veda; a description of the age of Kali; description of Sveta-Varaha Kalpa, Vishnu dharmotara.

2) Naradiya Purana – 25,000 verses.

This Purana contains a synopsis of everything; it describes Jagannatha Puri, Dwaraka, Badrinatha, etc.

3) Padma Purana – 55,000 verses.

Contains the glory of Srimad-Bhagavatam; the stories of Rama, Jagannatha, Matsya, Ekadasi, Bhrgu, etc.

4) Garuda Purana – 19,000 verses.

Subject of Bhagavad-gita; reincarnation; visnu-sahasra-nama; description of Tarsya Kalpa.

5) Varaha Purana – 24,000 verses.

Describes different vratas; Lord Vishnu’s glories.

6) Bhagavata Purana – 18,000 verses. (included by some in the mode of goodness)

Puranas with Lord Brahma as the Predominating Deity (Rajo Guna):

7) Brahmanda Purana – 12,000 verses.

Describes the vedangas; describes the Adi Kalpa.

8) Brahmavaivarta Purana – 18,000 verses.

Contains the glories and pastimes of Radha and Krishna.

9) Markandeya Purana – 9,000 verses.

Stories of Rama and Krishna.

10) Bhavisya Purana – 14,500 verses.

Contains the glories of devotional service; prediction of Lord Chaitanya.

11) Vamana Purana – 10,000 verses.

Contains the story of Lord Trivikrama.

12) Brahma Purana – 10,000 verses.

Puranas with Lord Shiva as the Predominating Deity (Tamo Guna):

13) Matsya Purana – 14,000 verses.

Temple construction; describes Vamana and Varaha Kalpas.

14) Kurma Purana – 17,000 verses.

Contains the conversation between Krishna and the Sun-god (mentioned in Bhagavad-gita); Danvantari; Describes the Lakshmi Kalpa.

15) Linga Purana – 10,000 verses.

Contains the glory of Lord Nrismhadeva; Janardhana; the story of Ambarisa; the glories of Gayatri.

16) Shiva Purana – 24,000 verses.

17) Skanda Purana – 81,000 verses.

18) Agni Purana – 15,400 verses.

Contains the description of Salagrama; Describes the Isana Kalpa.

All these Puranas describe five subjects. The Amarkhosa describes the Puranas as follows:

sargas ca pratisarga ca
vamsa manvantarani ca
vamsanu caritam capi
puranam panca laksanam

A Purana describes five subjects:

1) sarga (creation)
2) pratisarga (recreation)
3) vamsa (history of the sages)
4) manvantara (periods of Manu)
5) vamsanucarita (geneology of kings)