Definition of Purana Classification Verses

In Hinduism, there are Eighteen Major Puranas.

 

Some include Vayu Purana and count as Nineteen.

 

Puranas are Smriti, ‘Remembered’ as against Sruthi, Vedas, ‘Heard’

 

Purana is made up of Pura +Navam, meaning,

 

Ver Old, yet Novel.

 

What becomes eligible to be called a Purana?

 

sargas ca pratisarga ca
vamsa manvantarani ca
vamsanu caritam capi
puranam panca laksanam-Amarakosa.

 

1. Sarga.

 

2.Prati Sarga.

 

3.Vamsa.

 

4.Manvanthara.

 

5.Vamsavali.

 

Sarga -Creation and Evolution of The Universe.

 

Prati Sarga-Dissolution and re-Manifestation of the Universe.

 

Vamsa-Solar and Lunar Dynasties.

 

Manvanthara-Different Yugas, Aeons.

 

Vamsavali-Dynaties, other than Solar and Lunar.

 

This is definition by Amarasimha and others.

 

These are compiled, not written in as original by Vyasa.

 

These Puranas speak about  Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

 

Those that speak of Brahma are Rajasa Purana,

 

Of Vishnu, Sathvika, and

 

of  the Rites to be performed for the dead, Poojas, Vrats, Pilgrimage, Dhana, Dharma and Shiva are  Tamasa Purana.

 

Who said to whom?

 

Shiva Purana- B Brahma to Narada.

 

Koorma b Pulasthya to Narada,

 

Garuda, by Garuda to Kasyapa ,

 

Markandeya by Markandeya to Jamini,

 

Agni, by Agni to Vyasa,

 

Varaha, Vayu and Kandha Purana by Varaha, Vayu and Muruga respectively.

 

Vishnu Purana by Matsayavatara Vishnu to Manu .

 

 

Of the many texts designated ‘Puranas’ the most important are the Mahāpurāṇas. These are always said to be eighteen in number, divided into three groups of six, though in fact they are not always counted in the same way. Combining the various lists Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van Buitenen have collated twenty names, totalling 429,000 verses:^[18]

Purana name	Verses number	Comments
Agni	15,400 verses	Contains details of Vastu Shastra and Gemology.
Bhagavata	18,000 verses	Indologist Ludo Rocher considers it to be the most celebrated and popular of the Puranas,[19][20] telling of Vishnu’s ten Avatars. Its tenth and longest canto narrates the deeds of Krishna, introducing his childhood exploits, a theme later elaborated by many Bhakti movements.[21]
Brahma	10,000 verses	Describes the Godavari and its tributaries.
Brahmanda	12,000 verses	Includes Lalita Sahasranamam, a text some Hindus recite as prayer.
Brahmavaivarta	17,000 verses	Describes ways to worship Devis, Krishna and Ganesha.
Garuda	19,000 verses	Describes death and its aftermaths.
Harivamsa	16,000 verses	Is considered to be itihāsa (epic poetry).
Kurma	17,000 verses
Linga	11,000 verses	Describes the magnificence of Lingam, symbol of Shiva, and origin of the universe. It also contains many stories of Lingam one of which entails how Agni Lingam solved dispute between Vishnu and Brahma.
Markandeya	09,000 verses	The Devi Mahatmya, an important text for the Shaktas, is embedded in it.
Matsya	14,000 verses	Narrates the story of Matsya, the first of ten major Avatars of Vishnu. It also contains genealogical details of various dynasties.[22]
Narada	25,000 verses	Describes the greatness of Vedas and Vedangas.
Padma	55,000 verses	Describes the greatness of Bhagavad Gita. Hence, it is also known as gītāmāhātmya (lit. the majesty of Gita).
Shiva	24,000 verses	Describes the greatness of Shiva, greatness in worshiping Shiva and other stories about him.
Skanda	81,100 verses	Describes the birth of Skanda (or Karthikeya), first son of Shiva. The longest Purana, it is an extraordinarily meticulous pilgrimage guide, containing geographical locations of pilgrimage centers in India, with related legends, parables, hymns and stories. Many untraced quotes are attributed to this text.[23]
Vamana	10,000 verses	Describes areas around Kurukshetra in North India.
Varaha	24,000 verses	Describes various forms prayer and devotional observances to Vishnu. Many illustrations also involve Shiva and Durga.[24]
Vayu	24,000 verses	Another name of Shiva Purana
Vishnu	23,000 verses	Describes the many deeds of Vishnu and various ways to worship him.[25]

Classification.

Puranas are classified according to qualification of persons who can understand them: “Purāṇas are supplementary explanations of the Vedas intended for different types of men. All men are not equal. There are men who are conducted by the mode of goodness, others who are under the mode of passion and others who are under the mode of ignorance. The Purāṇas are so divided that any class of men can take advantage of them and gradually regain their lost position and get out of the hard struggle for existence.”^[26]

The Mahapuranas are frequently classified according the three aspects of the divine Trimurti:^[2]

VaiṣṇavaPuranas:	Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Nāradeya Purana, Garuda Purana, Padma Purana, Varaha Purana, Vāmana Purana,Kūrma Purana, Matsya Purana, Kalki Purana
BrāhmaPuranas:	Brahma Purana, Brahmānda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Mārkandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana,
ŚaivaPuranas:	Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana, Vāyu Purana

 

1) Vishnu 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; description of Sveta-Varaha Kalpa, Vishnu 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 verses.

 

Subject of Bhagavad-gita; reincarnation; visnu-sahasra-nama; description of Tarsya Kalpa.

 

5) Varaha Purana – 24,000 verses.

 

Describes different vratas; Lord Vishnu’s glories.

 

6) Bhagavata Purana – 18,000 verses. (included by some in the mode of goodness)

 

Puranas with Lord Brahma as the Predominating Deity (Rajo Guna):

 

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 Krishna.

 

9) Markandeya Purana – 9,000 verses.

 

Stories of Rama and Krishna.

 

10) Bhavisya Purana – 14,500 verses.

 

Contains the glories of devotional service; prediction of Lord Chaitanya.

 

11) Vamana Purana – 10,000 verses.

 

Contains the story of Lord Trivikrama.

 

12) Brahma Purana – 10,000 verses.

 

 

Puranas with Lord Shiva as the Predominating Deity (Tamo Guna):

 

13) Matsya Purana – 14,000 verses.

 

Temple construction; describes Vamana and Varaha Kalpas.

 

14) Kurma Purana – 17,000 verses.

 

Contains the conversation between Krishna and the Sun-god (mentioned in Bhagavad-gita); Danvantari; Describes the Lakshmi Kalpa.

 

15) Linga Purana – 10,000 verses.

 

Contains the glory of Lord Nrismhadeva; Janardhana; the story of Ambarisa; the glories of Gayatri.

 

16) Shiva 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.

 

 

Citation.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puranas

 

http://www.chanakya.com/purana-list.htm

 

Image Credit.

 

http://www.interfaith.org/forum/divisions-of-the-vedic-literatures-12864.html

 

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