Purana - Ancient Indian Literature, Truth and Myth.

                      Purana.

The period of writing of Purana is BC 600 to AD 3^rd 4^th century. 

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

One can get the history of India after Mahabharta war to 6^th 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.

                                          Rest in next part.