Indian Puranas constitute one of the richest sources of Hindu Literature as well as mythology. They contain some important components of both Hinduism as well as Buddhism. The Puranas narrate various stories about the Gods and the Goddesses, rights and rituals and hymns. These scriptures have been passed from one generation to the other, either by word of mouth or stored scriptures. There are about 18 major Puranas along with some minor ones, which have been merged in various ideas from different faiths. The Indian Puranas are classified into the Mahapuranas (great) and the Upapuranas (lower, additional) and the classification of Puranas depends on the importance of each of these Indian Puranas.Origin of Puranas
According to researches, the Puranas represent the earliest traditional history. Tradition has it that the Puranas were composed by Ved Vyas at the end of Dwapara Yuga, though the exact origin of Indian Puranas is not known. However modern scholars state that Indian Puranas existed from the 4th century BC to the 1st millennium AD. The Puranas undoubtedly reach back to great antiquity and are rooted in Vedic Literature; many a legend, already familiar from Hymns of Rig Veda and from the Brahmanas, reappears in the Puranas. Furthermore, history depicts that Puranas existed even before the advent of the Vedic texts. Age of the Puranas lies in the antiquity and in those past days, Puranas were given enough significance for the developed civilisation.
But, just as undoubtedly, those works which have come down to us under the title of " Purana" are of a later date, and up to the present day books are fabricated which assume the proud title "Purana," or claim to be parts of ancient Puranas. Even the latest productions of this literature have the external form and the archaic frame of the oldest Puranas.
Meaning of Puranas
The word "Purana" means originally nothing but Puranam Akhyanam, i.e. old narrative. In the older literature, in Brahmanas, Upanishadand old Buddhist texts, the word is generally found in connection with Itihasa. But the Itihasas and Puranas or Itihasapurana so often mentioned in olden times, do not mean actual books, still less, then, the epics or Puranas which have come down to us. It is indeed likely enough that the Puranas are only recasts of older works of the same species, namely, of works of religious didactic contents, in which were collected ancient traditions of the Creation, the deeds of the gods, heroes, saints and ancient ancestors of the human race, the beginnings of the famous royal families, and so on.
For more, visit the link below:
