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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Vishnu Puranam, gem among the 18 works

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI, FEB. 8. While the two epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharata -

provide a treat of the incarnation of God and how, born as a human being, He

guided the misled men to adhere to the Law of Virtue, the Puranas speak about

the powers and works of various gods. The definition of a Purana refers to its

five features, ``the creation of the universe; its destruction and renovation;

the genealogy of gods and patriarch; the reigns of various rulers during various

aeons and the history of the solar and lunar dynasties (of kings).'' The

invariable form of these scriptural classics is that of a dialogue between an

exponent and an enquirer, interspersed with the observations of others. Written

by Parasara, the Vishnu Puranam, one of the 18 such mighty works, was conveyed

to Maitreya. The background of the narrations of these works reveals how the

qualified teachers, who expounded them, were ready to share their knowledge with

students and disciples who deserved to equip themselv!

es with Divine knowledge. Any outstanding piece of literature should speak of

the author, about the subject matter and of the key figure therein. The Vishnu

Puranam was contributed by one whose name itself suggests how he disputed the

fallacious arguments of those who denigrated God and His utterances. Even as the

Bhagavad Gita was the outcome of the dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna, the

hymns of Nammazhwar and Madhurakavi Azhwar, the Sahasranama of Bhishma and

Yudhishtira, the Mahabharatam of Janamejaya and Vaisampayana, the Bhagavatam of

Parikshit and Suka, this Puranam was the result of the discussion between

Parasara and Maitreya. This work is described as a ``gem'' among the 18, even as

the hymn of Alavandar is reckoned as the ``Stotra Ratnam.''

 

In his introductory discourse, Sri Velukkudi Krishnan explained how the Puranas

have been classified into three categories of each six, according to the

prevalence in them, of the qualities of purity, gloom and passion. The

Bhagavatam and the Vishnu Puranam are two among the six in the first

classification, adoring the pre-eminence of Lord Vishnu. Each Puranam varies in

length and while the total number of all the works run to four lakh verses, that

of Vishnu Puranam contains 23,000 couplets or stanzas. Among the Vedas, one

should at least be familiar with Purusha Sooktham, among the treatises on

``Dharma'' that of Manu, among the entire Mahabharatam, at least the Bhagavad

Gita and among the Puranas, that which relates to the glory of Lord Vishnu, says

a verse.

 

 

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