Guest guest Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 I read that the Chandi Pathah is derived from Markandeya Purana. I know that Purana means both "ancient" as well as "story" . I wanted to find out a little bit more about the Puranas. Here are the questions that I had and the answers that I got after a lil bit o research . My thanks to all the various online resources. ===================================================================== What are the Puranas ? These are the collection of Sanskrit legends, of ancient beliefs. The Puranas are considered smriti. How many Puranas are there ? There are about 18 of them, and different sources cite different times in which they were compiled into a written form. Some as early as 300 AD, and the most recent ones to 1300 - 1400 AD. The 18 major Puranas are divided into three groups, each exalting one member of the Hindu Trinity (Brahma/Vishnu/Shiva). What was the intended purpose of the Puranas? The Puranas are the magnifying glass of the Vedas. They are written in the form of a dialogue between an exponent and an inquirer. The Puranas were intended for the ordinary man to have a better understanding of the deep principles that are mentioned in the Vedas. A subject briefly touched upon, may not make a deep impression on the mind. If the same were told as an absorbing story it would at once make an impact on the mind of the listener or reader. For example , the Vedas urge us to speak the truth ("Satyam vada"). How one becomes exalted by remaining truthful at all costs is illustrated by the story of Hariscandra. The story of Harischandra is from the Markandeya Purana, where the Chandi Pathah is derived. The dharmic virtues as humility, patience, compassion which are mentioned as principles in the Vedas, are illustrated through the noble examples of men and women of ancient times. By reading their stories or listening to them we form a deep attachment to the virtues and qualities exemplified by them. ==================== JAI MAA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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