What are the 18 Purāṇas?

eighteen great collections of sacred history, cosmology, stories of the gods, pilgrimage and practice.

The Purāṇas (“ancient lore”) bring Vedic truths to everyone through stories. Tradition credits their compilation to Vyāsa. The eighteen Mahāpurāṇas are commonly listed as: Brahma, Padma, Viṣṇu, Śiva (some lists give Vāyu), Bhāgavata, Nārada, Mārkaṇḍeya, Agni, Bhaviṣya, Brahmavaivarta, Liṅga, Varāha, Skanda, Vāmana, Kūrma, Matsya, Garuḍa and Brahmāṇḍa. There are also many Upapurāṇas and local sthala-purāṇas of temples.

A classical Purāṇa covers five topics: creation, re-creation, genealogies, the ages of Manu, and royal dynasties. In practice they also teach vratas, festivals, tīrthas, temple worship and devotion.

Some are especially loved: the Bhāgavata for Kṛṣṇa's life and bhakti, the Viṣṇu Purāṇa for Vaiṣṇava theology, the Śiva and Liṅga Purāṇas for Śaiva devotion, the Mārkaṇḍeya for the Devī Māhātmya (Durgā Saptaśatī), and the Garuḍa Purāṇa for rites after death.

Pañca-lakṣaṇa: five classic topics · Devī Māhātmya: in the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

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