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All the Puranas belong to the class of Suhrit-Samhitas, while Vedas are Prabhu-Samhitas. Vyasa is the compiler of the Puranas from age to age; and for this age, he is Krishnadvaipayana, the son of Parasara.<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, Page 41-45</ref>

All the Puranas belong to the class of Suhrit-Samhitas, while Vedas are Prabhu-Samhitas. Vyasa is the compiler of the Puranas from age to age; and for this age, he is Krishnadvaipayana, the son of Parasara.<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, Page 41-45</ref>

The Puranas were written to popularise the teachings of the Vedas. They contain the essence of the Vedas. The aim of the Puranas is to impress on the minds of the masses the teachings of the Vedas and to generate in them devotion to God, through concrete examples, stories, legends, lives of saints, kings and great men, allegories and chronicles of great historical events. The sages made use of these to illustrate the eternal principles of religion. The Puranas were meant, not for the scholars, but for the ordinary people who could not understand deep philosophy and who could not study the Vedas.<ref name=":0" />

The Puranas popularised the teachings of the Vedas. They contain the essence of the Vedas. The aim of the Puranas is to impress on the minds of the masses the teachings of the Vedas and to generate in them devotion to God, through concrete examples, stories, legends, lives of saints, kings and great men, allegories and chronicles of great historical events. The ancient seers made use of these to illustrate the eternal principles of dharmas for people of all ashramas. The Puranas were meant, not for the scholars, but for the ordinary people who could not understand deep philosophy and who could not devote time for the study the Vedas.<ref name=":0" />

The Darsanas are not easy to understand. They are meant only for the learned few. Through Puranas, essential teachings are taught in a very easy and interesting way. Even to this day, the Puranas are popular. The Puranas contain the history of remote times. They also give a description of the regions of the universe not visible to the ordinary physical eye. They are very interesting to read and are full of information of all kinds.  

The Darsanas and shastras are technical in nature understood by a few who pursue to study them. Through Puranas, essential dharmas are taught in a very easy and interesting way and are heard even to this day, thus they are popular. Many vratas (vows) followed in the present day contain the legends from various Puranas. The Puranas contain the history of remote times. They also give a description of the regions of the universe not visible to the ordinary physical eye. They are very interesting to read and are full of information of all kinds.  

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

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)"

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".  

Vayu Purana says that it is called Purana because it talks about the past or that which existed in olden times. <blockquote>यस्मात्पुरा ह्यनन्तीदं पुराणं तेन चोच्यते। (Vayu. Pura. 41.55)<ref>Vayu Purana (Uttaratha [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/वायुपुराणम्/उत्तरार्धम्/अध्यायः_४१ Adhyaya 41])</ref></blockquote>Phalashruti

 

Matsya Purana describes the origin and phalashruti of Puranas thus - the learned, those who know, say that the recitation of the list of the '''Puranas dealing with kalpas''' (records of prior events from ancient Kalpas) brings fame and longevity. <blockquote>पुरातनस्य कल्पस्य पुराणानि विदुर्बुधाः धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुराणानामनुक्रमम् (Mats. Pura. 53.63)<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>

 

 

Skanda Purana mentions that Puranas were given by Brahma (Pitamaha) who performed a severe tapas and from whom the Vedas along with the Vedangas manifested. After the Vedas all the Puranas consisting of the eternal sounds (of Vedas) extending to a hundred crore slokas manifested from the mouth of Brahma.  

== Purana Lakshana ==

== Purana Lakshana ==

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.  

== Classification of Puranas ==

== Classification of Puranas ==