8,090
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 10:
Line 10: + + + + + + + + + + + + + Line 157:
Line 170: − ==Content== − Several Puranas, such as the Matysa Purana,<ref>''Matsya Purana'' 53.65</ref> list "five characteristics" or "five signs" of a Purana.<ref name="oliverleaman437">Greg Bailey (2001), Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy (Editor: Oliver Leaman), Routledge, ISBN 978-0415172813, pages 437-439</ref> These are called the ''Pancha Lakshana'' ( {{IAST|pañcalakṣaṇa}}), and are topics covered by a Purana:<ref name="oliverleaman437" /><ref name="Rao">{{Harvnb|Rao|1993|pp=85–100}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Johnson|2009|p = 248 }}</ref> − #''Sarga'': [[cosmogony]] − #''Pratisarga'': cosmogony and [[cosmology]]<ref>Jonathan Edelmann (2013), The Bhagavata Purana: Sacred Text and Living Tradition (Editors: Ravi Gupta and Kenneth Valpey), Columbia University Press, ISBN 978-0231149983, pages 48-62</ref> − #''Vamśa'': [[genealogy]] of the gods, sages and kings<ref>Vayu Purana 1. 31-2.</ref> − #''Manvañtara'': cosmic cycles,<ref>RC Hazra (1987), Studies in the Puranic Records on Hindu Rites and Customs, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120804227, page 4</ref> history of the world during the time of one patriarch − #''Vamśānucaritam'': legends during the times of various kings.<p>A few Puranas, such as the most popular Bhagavata Purana, add five more characteristics to expand this list to ten:<ref name="gregbailey440" /> </p> − # 'Utaya'': [[Karma|karmic]] links between the deities, sages, kings and the various living beings'' − #''Ishanukatha'': tales about a god − #''Nirodha'': finale, cessation − #''Mukti'': [[moksha]], spiritual liberation − #''Ashraya'': refuge − The Puranas link gods to men, both generally and in religious [[bhakti]] context.<ref name="gregbailey440" /> Here the Puranic literature follows a general pattern. It starts with introduction, a future devotee is described as ignorant about the god yet curious, the devotee learns about the god and this begins the spiritual realization, the text then describes instances of god's grace which begins to persuade and convert the devotee, the devotee then shows devotion which is rewarded by the god, the reward is appreciated by the devotee and in return performs actions to express further devotion.<ref name="gregbailey440">Greg Bailey (2001), Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy (Editor: Oliver Leaman), Routledge, ISBN 978-0415172813, pages 440-443</ref> − − The texts are in Sanskrit as well as regional languages,<ref name="johncort185">John Cort (1993), Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and Transformation in Hindu and Jaina Texts (Editor: Wendy Doniger), State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791413821, pages 185-204</ref><ref name="gregorybailey">Gregory Bailey (2003), The Study of Hinduism (Editor: Arvind Sharma), The University of South Carolina Press, ISBN 978-1570034497, page 139</ref> and almost entirely in narrative metric couplets.<ref name="merriam">Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, ISBN 0-877790426, page 915</ref> − The Puranic literature, suggests Khanna, influenced "acculturation and accommodation" of a diversity of people, with different languages and from different economic classes, across different kingdoms and traditions, catalyzing the syncretic "cultural mosaic of Hinduism".<ref name="champa48">R Champakalakshmi (2012), Cultural History of Medieval India (Editor: M Khanna), Berghahn, ISBN 978-8187358305, pages 48-50</ref> They helped influence cultural pluralism in India, and are a literary record thereof.<ref name="champa48" /> −
→Influence: editing
== Lakshanas of Puranas ==
== Lakshanas of Puranas ==
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.
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.
Several Puranas, such as the Matysa Purana,<ref>''Matsya Purana'' 53.65</ref> list "five characteristics" or "five signs" of a Purana.<ref name="oliverleaman437">Greg Bailey (2001), Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy (Editor: Oliver Leaman), Routledge, ISBN 978-0415172813, pages 437-439</ref> These are called the ''Pancha Lakshana'' (), and are topics covered by a Purana:<ref name="oliverleaman437" /><ref name="Rao">{{Harvnb|Rao|1993|pp=85–100}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Johnson|2009|p = 248 }}</ref>
#''Sarga'': [[cosmogony]]
#''Pratisarga'': cosmogony and [[cosmology]]<ref>Jonathan Edelmann (2013), The Bhagavata Purana: Sacred Text and Living Tradition (Editors: Ravi Gupta and Kenneth Valpey), Columbia University Press, ISBN 978-0231149983, pages 48-62</ref>
#''Vamśa'': [[genealogy]] of the gods, sages and kings<ref>Vayu Purana 1. 31-2.</ref>
#''Manvañtara'': cosmic cycles,<ref>RC Hazra (1987), Studies in the Puranic Records on Hindu Rites and Customs, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120804227, page 4</ref> history of the world during the time of one patriarch
#''Vamśānucaritam'': legends during the times of various kings.<p>A few Puranas, such as the most popular Bhagavata Purana, add five more characteristics to expand this list to ten:<ref name="gregbailey440">Greg Bailey (2001), Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy (Editor: Oliver Leaman), Routledge, ISBN 978-0415172813, pages 440-443</ref> </p>
# 'Utaya'': [[Karma|karmic]] links between the deities, sages, kings and the various living beings''
#''Ishanukatha'': tales about a god
#''Nirodha'': finale, cessation
#''Mukti'': [[moksha]], spiritual liberation
#''Ashraya'': refuge
The Puranas link gods to men, both generally and in religious [[bhakti]] context.<ref name="gregbailey440" /> Here the Puranic literature follows a general pattern. It starts with introduction, a future devotee is described as ignorant about the god yet curious, the devotee learns about the god and this begins the spiritual realization, the text then describes instances of god's grace which begins to persuade and convert the devotee, the devotee then shows devotion which is rewarded by the god, the reward is appreciated by the devotee and in return performs actions to express further devotion.<ref name="gregbailey440" />
== Classification of the Puranas ==
== Classification of the Puranas ==
| [[Tamas (philosophy)|Tamas]]<br>("ignorance") || [[Matsya Purana]], [[Kurma Purana|Kurma purana]], [[Linga Purana]], [[Shiva Purana]], [[Skanda Purana]], [[Agni Purana]]
| [[Tamas (philosophy)|Tamas]]<br>("ignorance") || [[Matsya Purana]], [[Kurma Purana|Kurma purana]], [[Linga Purana]], [[Shiva Purana]], [[Skanda Purana]], [[Agni Purana]]
|}All major Puranas contain sections on [[Devi]] (goddesses) and [[Tantra]], but of these the six most significant ones are: [[Markandeya Purana]], [[Shiva Purana]], [[Linga Purana]], [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], [[Agni Purana]] and [[Padma Purana]].<ref>Ludo Rocher (1986), The Puranas, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, ISBN 978-3447025225, pages 113-114, 153-154, 161, 167-169, 171-174, 182-187, 190-194, 210, 225-227, 242</ref>
|}All major Puranas contain sections on [[Devi]] (goddesses) and [[Tantra]], but of these the six most significant ones are: [[Markandeya Purana]], [[Shiva Purana]], [[Linga Purana]], [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], [[Agni Purana]] and [[Padma Purana]].<ref>Ludo Rocher (1986), The Puranas, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, ISBN 978-3447025225, pages 113-114, 153-154, 161, 167-169, 171-174, 182-187, 190-194, 210, 225-227, 242</ref>
==Influence==
==Influence==
Om Prakash states the Puranas served as efficient medium for cultural exchange and popular education in ancient and medieval India.<ref name="omprakash33" /> These texts adopted, explained and integrated regional deities such as Pashupata in Vayu Purana, Sattva in Vishnu Purana, Dattatreya in Markendeya Purana, Bhojakas in Bhavishya Purana.<ref name="omprakash33" /> Further, states Prakash, they dedicated chapters to "secular subjects such as poetics, dramaturgy, grammar, lexicography, astronomy, war, politics, architecture, geography and medicine as in Agni Purana, perfumery and lapidary arts in Garuda Purana, painting, sculpture and other arts in Vishnudharmottara Purana".<ref name="omprakash33">Om Prakash (2004), Cultural History of India, New Age, ISBN 978-8122415872, pages 33-34</ref>
Om Prakash states the Puranas served as efficient medium for cultural exchange and popular education in ancient and medieval India.<ref name="omprakash33" /> These texts adopted, explained and integrated regional deities such as Pashupata in Vayu Purana, Sattva in Vishnu Purana, Dattatreya in Markendeya Purana, Bhojakas in Bhavishya Purana.<ref name="omprakash33" /> Further, states Prakash, they dedicated chapters to "secular subjects such as poetics, dramaturgy, grammar, lexicography, astronomy, war, politics, architecture, geography and medicine as in Agni Purana, perfumery and lapidary arts in Garuda Purana, painting, sculpture and other arts in Vishnudharmottara Purana".<ref name="omprakash33">Om Prakash (2004), Cultural History of India, New Age, ISBN 978-8122415872, pages 33-34</ref>
;Indian Arts
;Indian Arts