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=== In Vedas and Vedangas ===

=== In Vedas and Vedangas ===

In Taittriya Aranyaka (2.10) we find a mention of Brahmanas, Itihasas, Puranas, and Narasamshi gathas.

In Taittriya Aranyaka (2.10) of Krishna Yajurveda and Shatapatha Brahmana (11.5.6-8) we find a mention of Brahmanas, Itihasas, Puranas, and Narasamshi gathas that are part of svadhyaya.<blockquote>मध्वाहुतयो ह वा एता देवानाम्। यदनुशासनानि विद्या वाकोवाक्यमितिहासपुराणं गाथा नाराशंस्यः स य एवं विद्वाननुशासनानि विद्या वाकोवाक्यमितिहासपुराणं गाथा नाराशंसीरित्यहरहः स्वाध्यायमधीते.... (Shat. Brah. 11.5.6)<ref>Shatapatha Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A Kanda 11, Adhyaya 5, Brahmana 6])</ref></blockquote>Puranas find a mention in the Atharva veda along with Itihasas in the singular; where it is said that the rks, the samans, the chandas, puranas, yajus originated from the residue (ucchista) of the yajnas.<blockquote>ऋचः सामानि छन्दांसि पुराणं यजुषा सह । उच्छिष्टाज्जज्ञिरे सर्वे दिवि देवा दिविश्रितः ॥२४॥ (Athar. Veda. 11.9.24)<ref>Atharva Veda (Kanda 11, Sukta 9)</ref> </blockquote>Brhdaranyanka Upanishad ascribes the origin of the four vedas, Itihas and Puranas, Vidyas, Upanishad shlokas, sutras, their commentaries to the breath of the Mahabhuta (Virat Purusha).<blockquote>वा अरेऽस्य महतो भूतस्य निःश्वसितमेतद्यदृग्वेदो यजुर्वेदः सामवेदोऽथर्वाङ्गिरस इतिहासः पुराणं विद्या उपनिषदः श्लोकाः सूत्राण्यनुव्याख्यानानि व्याख्याननीष्टं (Brhd. Upan. 4.5.11)</blockquote>Brhadaranyaka (4.1.2) also we find reference to Itihasa and Purana terms.

 

=== Panchamaveda ===

=== Panchamaveda ===

According to a few scholars<ref>Pt. Giridhar Sharma Chaturvedi (1998) ''Purana Parishilan (Hindi).'' Patna : Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad. (Pages 2-3)</ref> the explanation of how Puranas get an equal place as Vedas, forming the Panchama veda is given in the following way. In the Vratyakanda of Atharvaveda we find the following lines<blockquote>तमितिहासश्च पुराणं च गाथाश्च नाराशंसीश्चानुव्यचलन् । [११]</blockquote><blockquote>इतिहासस्य च वै स पुराणस्य च गाथानां च नाराशंसीनां च प्रियं धाम भवति य एवं वेद।। (Athar. Veda. 15.6.11-12)<ref>Atharva Veda (Kanda 15, Sukta 6)</ref></blockquote>In Vratyakanda (15th Kanda of Atharvaveda) mantras we find the explanation that Vratyas (also called Kesins (Rig Veda 10.136.1-7 - a group of wandering ascetic people following Vrata) were a preraka (inducers) for prajapati also. Vratyas worshipped elements of nature and Rudra is said to be Vratyapati as described by the Shatarudriya of Yajurveda. We find in the present context that the Vratyas spread to different directions and along with the devatas, pitrs etc who go along with them. In the fifth and sixth suktas of the Vratyakanda it is mentioned that the four vedas, Itihasa, Puranas, Gathas including the Narasamshi, spread with them. Here it suffices to mention that Itihasa and Puranas have the same significance along with the four vedas and thus they form the Fifth Vedas. More details of Vratyas is dealt with separately.  

According to a few scholars<ref>Pt. Giridhar Sharma Chaturvedi (1998) ''Purana Parishilan (Hindi).'' Patna : Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad. (Pages 2-3)</ref> the explanation of how Puranas get an equal place as Vedas, forming the Panchama veda is given in the following way. In the Vratyakanda of Atharvaveda we find the following mantras<blockquote>तमितिहासश्च पुराणं च गाथाश्च नाराशंसीश्चानुव्यचलन् । [११]</blockquote><blockquote>इतिहासस्य च वै स पुराणस्य च गाथानां च नाराशंसीनां च प्रियं धाम भवति य एवं वेद।। (Athar. Veda. 15.6.11-12)<ref>Atharva Veda (Kanda 15, Sukta 6)</ref></blockquote>In Vratyakanda (15th Kanda of Atharvaveda) mantras we find the explanation that Vratyas (also called Kesins (Rig Veda 10.136.1-7) - a group of wandering ascetic people following Vrata) were a preraka (inducers) for prajapati also. Vratyas worshipped elements of nature and Rudra is said to be Vratyapati as described by the Shatarudriya of Yajurveda. We find in the present context that the Vratyas spread to different directions and along with the devatas, pitrs etc who go along with them. In the fifth and sixth suktas of the Vratyakanda it is mentioned that the four vedas, Itihasa, Puranas, Gathas including the Narasamshi, spread with them. Here it suffices to mention that Itihasa and Puranas have the same significance along with the four vedas and thus they form the Fifth Vedas. More details of Vratyas is dealt with separately.  

Chandogya Upanishad (7.1.2 and 4), Skanda Purana (5.3.1.18)<ref name=":1222">Skanda Puranam ([http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/puranas/skanda_purana/skanda_purana_05avanti_03reva.pdf Reva Khanda])</ref> and Bhagavata Purana (1.4.20)<ref name=":02">Shrimad Bhagavata Puranam ([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%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA Skanda 1 Adhyaya 4])</ref> mention that Puranas form the Panchamaveda.  

Chandogya Upanishad (7.1.2 and 4), Skanda Purana (5.3.1.18)<ref name=":1222">Skanda Puranam ([http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/puranas/skanda_purana/skanda_purana_05avanti_03reva.pdf Reva Khanda])</ref> and Bhagavata Purana (1.4.20)<ref name=":02">Shrimad Bhagavata Puranam ([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%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA Skanda 1 Adhyaya 4])</ref> mention that Puranas are the texts collectively as Panchamaveda.  

== Classification of Puranas ==

== Classification of Puranas ==

== Purana List ==

== Purana List ==

The list of Puranas is given in many puranas such as Padmapurana, Vishnupurana (3.6), Skanda purana, Agni Purana (10.8.3), however, they differ widely in names of the puranas included and the number of slokas mentioned.

The list of Puranas is given in many puranas such as Padmapurana, Vishnupurana (3.6), Skanda purana, Agni Purana (10.8.3), however, they differ widely in names of the puranas included and the number of slokas mentioned.

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The Brahma Purana - twenty-five thousand The Padma Purana - twelve thousand

The Brahma Purana - twenty-five thousand The Padma Purana - twelve thousand

The Vishnu Purana - thirteen thousand The Vayu Purana - fourteen thousand

The Vishnu Purana - thirteen thousand The Vayu Purana - fourteen thousand

The Bhagavata Purana - eighteen thousand

The Bhagavata Purana - eighteen thousand

==Texts==

==Texts==

===Mahapuranas===

===Mahapuranas===

Of the many texts designated 'Puranas' the most important are the ''{{IAST|Mahāpurāṇa}}s'' or the major Puranas.<ref name="corneliadimmitt4">Cornelia Dimmitt (2015), Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas, Temple University Press, ISBN 978-8120839724, page xii, 4</ref> These are said to be eighteen in number, divided into three groups of six, though they are not always counted in the same way.

Of the many texts designated 'Puranas' the most important are the ''{{IAST|Mahāpurāṇa}}s'' or the major Puranas. These are said to be eighteen in number, divided into three groups of six, though they are not always counted in the same way.

{| class="wikitable sortable" |-

{| class="wikitable sortable" |-

!S.No. !! Purana name !! Verses number !! Comments

!S.No. !! Purana name !! Verses number !! Comments