Purana

The term “Puranas” refers to a genre of ancient Indian literature that encompasses a vast collection of mythological, historical, and religious texts. Composed in Sanskrit, the Puranas are a significant part of Hindu literature and are believed to date back to as early as the 4th century BCE. These texts are typically presented in the form of narratives and cover a wide range of topics, including cosmology, genealogies of deities and legendary figures, legends, rituals, and moral teachings.

There are eighteen major Puranas, with some of the most well-known being the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana, and Markandeya Purana. Each Purana is associated with a particular deity or aspect of divinity, and they often interweave various narratives to convey religious, moral, and philosophical lessons. Alongside the epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the Puranas play a crucial role in preserving and transmitting Hindu traditions, cultural values, and the diverse mythological heritage of ancient India.