PURANAS

 Puranas are very important treatises of ancient times which reveal the thoughts and actions of old ages. The span of time when all the Puranas are made, is very long, probably 2,000 years. Some of the old Puranas are supposed to have been written several centuries before Christian era while the newer ones went on adding in succeeding centuries. A Purana is something  blending of history, legends and tales which may reveal lots of factual situations and thoughts of the ages concerned. Written in verses, Puranas have explained, remoulded and elaborated the contents of  the Vedas. There are 18 Puranas and 18 Upa Purans dealing with various subjects of Hindu Philosophy. It was at the time of Puranas that the “Bramhah”, the eternal universal entity for which Hindu trinity consisting of Bramha, Vishnu and Maheswar were created, was explained elaborately. They speak of the immortality of Atma, the essence of life which rotates from one life to another, but the ultimate aim of it being to get reunited with the Bramhah. Generally speaking, Puranas deal with the creation of the universe, its destruction and regeneration, genealogy of gods and patriarchs, history of solar and lunar races etc. The list of 18 Puranas under 3 broad categories developed under the names of the trinity gods vishnsu, Shiva and Bramha is as follows:  

Vaishnav Puranas in which Vishnu holds prominence and quality of Sattwa or purity prevails are: 1. Vishnu Purana 2. Naradiya Purana 3. Bhagwat Purana 4. Garuda Purana 5. Padma Purana 6. Varaha Purana. 

Shaiva Purnas devoted to Shiva in which Tama or darkness or ignorance prevails are: 1. Matsya Purana 2. Kurma Purana 3. Linga Purana 4. Shiva Purana 5. Skanda Purana 6. Agni Purana. 

Bramha Puranas having importance of Bramha in which Raja or passion prevails are: 1. Bramha Purana 2. Bramhanda Purana 3. Bramha Vaivarta Purana 4. Markandeya Purana 5. Bhavisya Purana 6. Vamana Purana.