Changes

==Description==

==Description==

The Puranas are of the same class as the Itihasas. They have

The Puranas have five characteristics (Pancha-Lakshana) viz., history, cosmology (with various symbolical illustrations of philosophical principles), secondary creation, genealogy of kings and of Manvantaras. All the Puranas belong to the class of Suhrit-Samhitas.<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, Page 41-45</ref> 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" />

five characteristics (Pancha-Lakshanq viz., history, cosmology (with various

symbolical illustrations of philosophical principles), secondary creation,

genealogy of kings and of Manvantaras. All the Puranas belong to the class of

Suhrit-Samhitas. Vyasa is the compiler of the Puranas from age to age; and for

this age, he is Krishnadvaipayana, the son of Parasara. The Puranas were

could not understand high philosophy and who co not study

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 Vedas. The Darsanas are very stiff. They are meant only the learned few.

 

The Puranas are meant for the mass<nowiki>'''</nowiki>. with inferior intellect. Religion is

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.  

taught in a very easy and interesting way through these Puranas. Even to thsiY

 

day, the Puranas are popular. The Puranas contain th8 history of remote times.

=== The Eighteen Puranas ===

They also give a description of the regions of the universe not visible to the

There are eighteen main Puranas and an equal number of subsidiary Puranas or Upa-Puranas. The main Puranas are: Vishnu Purana,

ordinan, Kathas in temples, on banks of rivers and from their grandmothers.

Pundits and Purohits hold full of information of all kinds. Children hear the

places. Agriculturists, labourers and bazaar people hear the stories. The

Eighteen Puranas There are eighteen main Puranas and an equal number of

subsidiary Puranas or Upa-Puranas. The main Puranas are: Vishnu Purana,

Naradiya Purana, Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Garuda (Suparna) Purana, Padma

Naradiya Purana, Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Garuda (Suparna) Purana, Padma

Purana, Varaha Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana,

Purana, Varaha Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana,