Saturday 14 October 2017

Ancient Indian Literature, their Period and Historical importance . Part - 6, Purana.


 

Purana



8. PuranaThe period of writing of Purana is BC 600 to AD 3rd 4th century. 

Actually Purana got its final touch in 3rd 4th century. 

One can get the history of India after Mahabharta war to 6th century BC; only through “Purana”, 

(The only source of Kings and their dynesty, India’s geography, about people and other information).     

Literally the meaning of the word ’Purana’ is Ancient’ (Prachin).

 In Purana one can get ancient Indian Dharma (Religion), culture, social and political condition of the nation, science and stories, myths, legends, traditional lore etc. 

“अष्ठादश पुराणेशु व्यास्सय वचनम् द्वयम । परोपकाराय पुणयाय, पापाय परपीडणम” ।।

In all 18 Purana, great Sage Vayasa has said 2 words (वचन) - Charity (परोपकार) is sanity (पुण्य). Sadistic (परपीडन) is Sin (पाप).     

There are a lot of historical materials in Purana but one has to be careful and the evidences must be cross checked with other evidences.

The subject of ‘Purana’ is - 

(a.) - Sarg Sristi (sarga – panch maha bhuta, indriya gayana, buddhi aadi tattvon ki utpatti kaa varnana; Sristi – creation).

This way Sarg Sristi means to know the creation of 5 elements from whom the universe is made, to know the creation of Ether, Knowledge of Life science, to know the heaven.  

(b). - Pratisarga – (Jagat ke punar nirmaan kaa varnana. Dissolution (Pralaya) ke paschat punah Sristi. 

Recreation of 5 elements after dissolution or great dissolution. Creation of Ether after dissolution.
Recreation of life. Recreation of the heaven after dissolution. Recreation of New Brahma and Brahmanda (Universe), the (Sun – Moon – Stars) etc. 

(c). - Vans (Pedigree, thoroughbred descent or dynesty) - Description of dynesty of kings, Surya – Chandra vans (Sun – Moon dynesty), (Gods and Sages dynesty). 

(d) - Manvantara – Manu, manuputra, deva, saptarshi, Indra and bhagwan ke avataaron ka varnana. In each Pratisarga there was new Manu and Manuputra, Deva, Saptarshi, Indra and description of appearance of God (Bhagwan ke avataaron ka varnana).

(Avtar) - Incarnation, Appearance or Manifestation.

(e). – Vansha nucharita – (dynesty of Kings, Sages or God). Purano me pratyak vansh ke prasiddh purushon ka varnana hai.  

Markandaya, Brahmanda, Vayu, Vishnu, Bhagwat and Matasaya Purana are the oldest one. 

Rest Purana are of later period.

In Vayu, Vishnu and Matasaya Purana, there is the history of king’s dynesty. At many places the description of king’s dynesty doesn’t matches with each - other. Even they don’t match with other proofs found from other means. 

One has to be very careful while using them as proof.

There are 18 purana (Brahma, Padma, Vishnu, Shiv, Bhagwat, Naradiya, Markandaya, Agni, Vayu, Brahmavayavrta, Linga, Varaha, Skanda, Vaman, Kurma, Matasaya, Garuda, and Brahmanda.

1. - Markandaya Purana – It has 9,000 verses. This purana is named after its writer sage Markandaya, a great Sage.

This purana contains chapters on Dharma and on Hindu epic Mahabharata

The Purana includes ‘Devi Mahatmyam’, it is also known as ‘Durga Saptasati’ the book on ‘Shakti puja’, Prayer of energy, power (Nature Goddess in its 9 look).

2. Brahmanda Purana – It has 12,000 verses. One of the earliest composed Purana; it contains controversial genealogical details of various dynasties.

In it one can get law codes, system of governance, administration, diplomacy, trade, and ethics. 

Old manuscripts of Brahmanda Purana have been found in the Hindu literature collections of Bali, Indonesia.


3. – Vayu Purana – In this purana there are 24,000 verses. 

This Purana praises Shiva. It also discusses rituals, family life, and life stages of a human being. 
The content in Vayu Purana is also found in Markandaya Purana.

It has described south India, particularly areas of today’s ‘Telangana and Andhra Pradesh regions. 

It also contains controversial genealogical details of various dynasties


4. – Vishnu Purana - In it there are 23,000 verses. This is one of the most studied and circulated Purana.
It also contains a controversial genealogical detail of various dynasties. 

Better preserved after the 17th century, but exists in inconsistent versions, more ancient pre-15th century versions are very different from modern versions, with some versions discussing Buddhism and Jainism.

Some chapters likely composed in Kashmir and Punjab region. This purana is a text on Lord Vishnu.

5. – Bhagwat Purana There are 18,000 verses in this purana. The most studied Purana.
In it there is telling of Vishnu's Avatars (Incarnation, Appearance) and of Vaishnavism. 
It contains a controversial genealogical detail of various dynasties. 

 It Influenced and elaborated the Bhakti movement and the people of Medieval period when Sanatan or Hindu dharma was in real danger.

6. - Matasaya Purana – It has 14,000 verses. This purana is an encyclopaedia of diverse topics. 
It narrates the story of Matasaya, the first of ten major Avatars of Vishnu. 
Possibly it is composed in west India, by people aware of geographical details of the river Narmada.  

In it there is story about Brahma and Saraswati. It also contains controversial genealogical details of various dynasties.

This is the end of Brahmin Literature.                   
 
Rigvedic Aryan was full of life.

They were lover of dance, music and songs. 

 In their life there was no place of salvation (moksha)

 They were the follower of karma or gratification. Sanayasa was (being Monk) was not their ‘cup of tea’.

Family life, its pleasure, happiness and sadness with family, race and society were part of Aryan’s life. 


Yajana, sloka, prayer was the medium through which they used to call god or make them happy. 

Everywhere in Rigveda Aryan’s prayed god to give them 100 years of life, sons, wealth, cows, and victory, no where they wished salvation (moksha). 

They always wished development in life for them and for their coming generation. 

Aryan’s were not escapist (palayanvadi); they were lover of life and great fighter. They loved life.

Sanatan Dharma Aryan considered Karma and gratification a part of their dharma or virtue to live life in a noble way, even to earn money in a righteous way. 

 If one pursues these aims rightly, one can get ‘Moksha’ or ‘Salvation’.

Vedic Aryan teaches the existence of ‘One Supreme Universal Spirit’, (Ishwar or Param Brahma). 

But Sanatan or Hindu Dharma allows people to worship in any form as s/he wishes or like. 

Thus Sanatan or today’s Hindu Dharma is henotheistic (adherence to one particular god out of several, especially by a family, tribe, or other group). 

Sanatana or Hindu Dharma with its varied doctrines, principles, philosophy and rituals gave rise to many religious (Dharma) sets within itself.

In course of time these sects developed their own way of worshiping. But the members of each sect, while following their own way, maintained a respectful approach towards the views of others.
                  Next will be Buddhist literature.

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