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| According to Shabdakalpadruma, the word Purana is used in the sense of पुरा भवमिति । which means "that which existed in the past" and पुरा नीयते इति । which means "that which takes (you) back (in time)" | | According to Shabdakalpadruma, the word Purana is used in the sense of पुरा भवमिति । which means "that which existed in the past" and पुरा नीयते इति । which means "that which takes (you) back (in time)" |
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− | Vayu Purana says that it is called Purana because it talks about the past <blockquote>यस्मात्पुरा ह्यनन्तीदं पुराणं तेन चोच्यते। (41.55)<ref>Vayu Purana (Uttaratha [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/वायुपुराणम्/उत्तरार्धम्/अध्यायः_४१ Adhyaya 41])</ref></blockquote> | + | Vayu Purana says that it is called Purana because it talks about the past <blockquote>यस्मात्पुरा ह्यनन्तीदं पुराणं तेन चोच्यते। (41.55)<ref>Vayu Purana (Uttaratha [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/वायुपुराणम्/उत्तरार्धम्/अध्यायः_४१ Adhyaya 41])</ref></blockquote>Matsya Purana describes Puranas as "containing the records of past events". |
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| == Purana Lakshana == | | == Purana Lakshana == |
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| === दश लक्षणानि ॥ Ten Lakshanas of Mahapuranas === | | === दश लक्षणानि ॥ Ten Lakshanas of Mahapuranas === |
− | Shabdakalpadruma further describes the ten characteristics of a Mahapurana as follows<blockquote>महापुराणस्य दश लक्षणानि । यथा, सर्गः १ विसर्गः २ वृत्तिः ३ रक्षा ४ अन्तरम् ५ वंशः ६ वंश्यानुचरितम् ७ संस्था ८ हेतुः ९ अपाश्रयः १० ॥ </blockquote><p>The same list as evidenced in Bhagavata Purana, is translated below </p><blockquote>पुराणलक्षणं ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मर्षिभिः निरूपितम् । श्रृणुष्व बुद्धिमाश्रित्य वेदशास्त्रानुसारतः ॥ ८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>सर्गोऽस्याथ विसर्गश्च वृत्तिरक्षान्तराणि च । वंशो वंशानुचरितं संस्था हेतुरपाश्रयः ॥ ९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>दशभिः लक्षणैर्युक्तं पुराणं तद्विदो विदुः । (Bhag. Pura. 12.7.8-9)<ref>Bhagavata Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4% Skanda 12 Adhyaya 7])</ref></blockquote>Summary : Listen (O Saunaka) with complete attention the characteristics of Puranas as described by the Brahmarshis in conformity to Vedas and Shastras. Those who are experts in puranic lore declare that Purana has the following ten lakshanas | + | Shabdakalpadruma further describes the ten characteristics of a Mahapurana as follows<blockquote>महापुराणस्य दश लक्षणानि । यथा, सर्गः १ विसर्गः २ वृत्तिः ३ रक्षा ४ अन्तरम् ५ वंशः ६ वंश्यानुचरितम् ७ संस्था ८ हेतुः ९ अपाश्रयः १० ॥ </blockquote><p>The same list as evidenced in Bhagavata Purana, is translated below </p><blockquote>पुराणलक्षणं ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मर्षिभिः निरूपितम् । श्रृणुष्व बुद्धिमाश्रित्य वेदशास्त्रानुसारतः ॥ ८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>सर्गोऽस्याथ विसर्गश्च वृत्तिरक्षान्तराणि च । वंशो वंशानुचरितं संस्था हेतुरपाश्रयः ॥ ९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>दशभिः लक्षणैर्युक्तं पुराणं तद्विदो विदुः । (Bhag. Pura. 12.7.8-9)<ref>Bhagavata Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4% Skanda 12 Adhyaya 7])</ref></blockquote>Summary : Listen (O Saunaka!) with complete attention the characteristics of Puranas as described by the Brahmarshis in conformity to Vedas and Shastras. Those who are experts in puranic lore declare that Purana has the following ten lakshanas |
| # सर्गः ॥ Sarga - the elemental primary creation (subtle) | | # सर्गः ॥ Sarga - the elemental primary creation (subtle) |
| # विसर्गः ॥ Visarga - the secondary creation (gross) | | # विसर्गः ॥ Visarga - the secondary creation (gross) |
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| # अपाश्रयः ॥ Apashraya - ultimate recourse | | # अपाश्रयः ॥ Apashraya - ultimate recourse |
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− | 3) Sthanam - the planetary systems
| + | Bhagavata Purana also includes a few of the above topics namely Sarga, Visarga (same as Pratisarga), Manvantaras in the ten subject-matters that it deals with. |
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− | 4) Poshanam - protection by the Lord
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− | 5) Utayah - the creative impetus
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− | 6) Manvantara - the change of Manus
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− | 7) Isha-anukatha - the science of God
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− | 8) Nirodha - the dissolution
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− | 9) Mukti - liberation
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− | 10) Ashraya - the supreme shelter
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| The Puranas are common lore mostly anecdotes of devatas, men, various creatures, avataras of deities, all of which mostly describe the dharmas to be followed, explaining the context in simpler terms. | | The Puranas are common lore mostly anecdotes of devatas, men, various creatures, avataras of deities, all of which mostly describe the dharmas to be followed, explaining the context in simpler terms. |