The Mahapuranas

The Brahma Purana is a major Hindu text that explores cosmology, creation myths, and sacred geography, with a special focus on pilgrimage sites like Prayag and Konark. It contains a blend of spiritual teachings, historical legends, and religious rituals, emphasizing devotion and dharma.

One of the largest and most important Puranas, the Padma Purana emphasizes the greatness of Lord Vishnu and his avatars. It covers mythology, rituals, geography of sacred places, cosmology, dharma, and stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata with a Vaishnavite orientation.

The Vishnu Purana is one of the 18 Mahapuranas, deeply rooted in Vaishnava philosophy. It presents a comprehensive account of cosmology, the universe’s creation and destruction cycles, the stories of Lord Vishnu’s incarnations (Dashavatara), the duties of individuals and kings, and the path to liberation (moksha) through devotion.

The Shiva Purana is one of the major 18 Puranas, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Shaivism. It describes his cosmic roles, teachings on dharma and yoga, the nature of reality, mythology, rituals, and the stories of his family, including Parvati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya. It promotes spiritual liberation through devotion to Shiva.

The Bhagavata Purana is considered the crown jewel of the 18 Mahapuranas. It elaborates on the life and teachings of Lord Krishna, emphasizing bhakti (devotion) as the supreme path to moksha (liberation). With deep philosophical insights, vivid narratives, and devotional hymns, it has inspired spiritual traditions and devotional movements across India.

The Narada Purana is a Vaishnavite Purana attributed to the sage Narada. It presents a dialogue between Narada and other sages, covering diverse topics such as devotion (bhakti), philosophy, duties of various varnas, performance of religious festivals, glorification of Vishnu, and summaries of other scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Mahabharata.

The Markandeya Purana is an ancient Hindu scripture attributed to Sage Markandeya. It is most notable for containing the Devi Mahatmya, one of the earliest and most important texts glorifying the Goddess as Supreme. The Purana blends mythology, moral teachings, cosmology, and devotion, with stories that illustrate dharma through the lives of sages and kings.

The Agni Purana is a vast and encyclopedic Purana presented as a dialogue between Agni, the fire god, and Sage Vasistha. It touches nearly every aspect of Hindu life and knowledge—from religion, rituals, and cosmology to governance, grammar, medicine, and military science. Though classified as a Purana, it is unique in its broad secular and practical scope.

The Bhavishya Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, containing prophecies about future events, historical accounts, and descriptions of important religious practices. It is unique for its attention to the future, including predictions about various dynasties, wars, and significant events in history. It also emphasizes the importance of religious observances and righteous living in accordance with dharma.

The Brahmavaivarta Purana is a Vaishnavite Purana that centers on Lord Krishna as the Supreme Reality (Parabrahman), with Radha as his eternal consort and the embodiment of Prakriti (nature). The text describes creation, cosmology, the divine feminine, and sacred love. It elevates Krishna above all gods and describes the universe as a manifestation of his will.

The Linga Purana is a Shaivite text devoted to Lord Shiva, especially in the symbolic form of the Linga. It outlines the origin of the cosmos from the Linga, details rituals and modes of Shiva worship, explains cosmological concepts, and emphasizes Shiva’s role as the source and end of the universe.

The Varaha Purana is a Vaishnava text that records teachings of Lord Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) form. It discusses cosmology, religious duties, sacred geography, festivals, and various deities. It is presented as a dialogue between Lord Varaha and Bhudevi (Earth goddess), and includes detailed accounts of temples, tirthas, and rituals.

The Skanda Purana is the largest of the 18 Mahapuranas and is devoted primarily to Lord Skanda (Kartikeya), the son of Lord Shiva. It contains geographical, cosmological, and spiritual narratives and praises sacred locations and temples across India. It also includes regional stories and theological discourses.

The Vamana Purana is a Vaishnavite text that centers around Lord Vishnu's Vamana avatar, where he incarnates as a dwarf Brahmin to subdue the demon king Bali. It also discusses Shiva, sacred geography, cosmology, religious duties, and various tirthas (pilgrimage sites), especially related to North India.

The Kurma Purana primarily narrates the story of Lord Vishnu's second avatar as the tortoise (Kurma), who supports Mount Mandara during the churning of the ocean. It also elaborates on cosmology, creation of the universe, temple worship, duties of priests and rulers, and various pilgrimage sites.

The Matsya Purana narrates the story of Lord Vishnu's first avatar as Matsya (the fish) who saves the Saptarishis and sacred texts during the Great Flood. It covers cosmology, genealogy, construction of temples, iconography, festivals, duties of kings and commoners, and sacred pilgrimage sites.

The Garuda Purana details the story of Garuda, the divine eagle who serves as Vishnu’s mount, and explores profound concepts about life, death, and the afterlife. It also contains teachings on the nature of the soul, karmic consequences, salvation, and includes various rituals, ceremonies, and hymns. The text serves as both a theological and a practical guide for religious observances and ethical living.

The Brahmanda Purana is one of the major Puranas, focusing primarily on the creation of the cosmos, the genealogies of gods and kings, and the stories of various deities. It also contains detailed descriptions of temples, rivers, and pilgrimage sites. The Purana emphasizes the concept of the Brahmanda (cosmic egg), symbolizing the universe's structure and the divine plan of creation.