Purana1

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THE FIFTH VEDA; PURANA

 

What is Purana?

 

The Veda is called Sruti (because it is learnt by hearing). It has four

interwoven parts.

 

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To make these four sections more easily performable Vyasadeva compiled these

four parts into four seperate books. Being sympathetic towards the fallen souls

of Kali-yuga, who are lazy, misdirected and have no inclination for spiritual

life, Vyasadeva compiled the Puranas, from related historical facts, which

explain the teachings of the four Vedas. In other words, the Puranas teach the

Vedic literature in story form, making spiritual life more simple, and

therefore in this age, they are more important.

 

Ref. (S.B. Canto 1 Ch.4 text 19-23)

 

There are eighteen Puranas that are divided into three groups along with

three predominating Deities.

 

1) GOODNESS - Visnu

 

2) PASSION - Brahma

 

3) IGNORANCE - Siva

 

They are divided in this way to gradually raise the conditioned soul from

ignorance to pure goodness. The three divisions of the Puranas are compiled in

this way to appeal to those people in these respective modes and to thus

elevate them to the perfection

of life.

 

18 PURANAS

(Verse numbers and most important subject matters for devotees).

 

LORD VISNU (Predominating Deity)

 

1) Visnu 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;

It describes the Sveta Varaha Kalpa, Visnu 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.

Subject of Bhagavad-gita;

Reincarnation;

Visnusahasranam;

It describes the Tarsya Kalpa.

 

5) Varaha Purana - 24,000 verses.

Describes different Vrata;

Lord Visnu's glories.

 

6) Bhagavata Purana - 18,000 verses.

(Included by some in the mode of goodness).

 

LORD BRAHMA (Predominating Deity)

 

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 Krsna.

 

9) Markendeya Purana - 9,000 verses.

Stories of Rama and Krsna.

 

10) Bhavisya Purana - 14,500 verses.

Contains the glories of devotional service;

Prediction of Lord Caitanya.

 

11) Vamana Purana - 10,000 verses.

Contains the story of Lord Trivikrama.

 

12) Brahma Purana - 10,000 verses.

 

 

LORD SIVA (Predominating Deity)

 

13) Matsya Purana - 14,000 verses.

Temple construction;

Describes Vamana and Varaha Kalpas.

 

14) Kurma Purana - 17,000 verses.

Contains the conversation between Krsna and the Sun-god;

Danvantari;

Describes the Laksmi Kalpa.

 

15) Linga Purana - 10,000 verses.

Contains the glory of Lord Nrsmhadeva;

Janardhana;

The story of Ambarisha;

The glories of Gayatri.

 

16) Siva 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.

 

Purana2 will discuss the subject matter of the Puranas.