According to Hindu mythology, Sage Ved Vyasa sat under a tree in Badrinath and underwent deep meditation. Finally, he attained the peak of enlightenment and was inspired to compose the Mahabharata, the Vedas, and the Puranas. There are 18 Puranas in total, each with their respective significance and value. The Puranas have been composed in such a way that they hold relevance in every century and every period. Hinduism has made significant progress after the study of the Puranas. Moreover, many customs of this religion have been sourced from the stories of the Puranas. Continue reading to find out what each puran tries to convey!

What Is The Importance Of The Hindu Puranas?

The ancient scriptures of the Vedas hold extreme significance in Hinduism. They are full of lessons, preachings, and principles that can only improve the lives of the people if implemented. However, the complicated subject matter made it inaccessible to the common people. The 18 Puranas act as a saviour in this case because each Purana conveys the same message as the Vedas but in the form of stories and conversations between people. Thus, every individual regardless of age was able to comprehend the principles mentioned in all Puranas and implement them to improve their life.

What Are The Types Of Puran?

It has already been mentioned that there are 18 Puranas in total. However, they can be further grouped into 3 categories. The first category is known as Sattva or Truth which includes the virtues of Lord Vishnu. The next category is popularly called Tamas or Ignorance which conveys the virtues of Lord Shiva. And, finally, the third category is Rajas or Passion. It not only offers the virtues of the God of Shakti but also of other Gods.

18 Puranas Names In Hinduism

1. Padma Purana

The Padma Purana features five chapters but 55,000 shlokas. It tells us the story of how Lord Brahma was born and a detailed description of the inception of the universe. This Purana falls under the Sattva and also mentions why months are significant in the Hindu religion.

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2. Vayu Purana

Hindu mythology has several gods and goddesses. The Vayu Purana makes you familiar with a few of them. Moreover, it also acquaints you with notable sages and demons. You will also find stories about Lord Surya, and ancient kings that once ruled the earth.

3. Narada Purana

Lord Narada Muni was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu. Thus, the Narada Purana is filled with Vishnu Bhakti and various teachings of Lord Vishnu. This Purana is believed to be the first one written and, therefore, is the oldest. It only has two chapters with 25,000 shlokas.

4. Agni Purana

Agni is another form of Lord Vishnu and the Agni Purana consists of praises for Agni. It spans over 383 chapters in 15,000 shlokas and mentions details about Lakshana Shastra which is figures of speech in English. You will also find information about literature, poetry, and medicine, and some relevance to Mahabharata and Ramayana.

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5. Brahma Vaivarta Purana

Lord Krishna is an avatar of Lord Vishnu and, thus, this Purana is a part of Sattva. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana weaves tales about Lord Krishna and Radha. It takes us through their life while singing their praises. As you read through 218 chapters and 18,000 shlokas, you will also find the mention of Lord Brahma, Goddess Saraswati, and Goddess Tulsi.

6. Varaha Purana

The Varaha Purana is divided into 217 chapters and 10,000 shlokas. It tells us different stories of the Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu. Thus, this Purana also falls under Sattva and conveys the virtues of Lord Vishnu.

7. Vamana Purana

Lord Vishnu was once reincarnated as a vaman. The Vamana Purana talks about his experiences as a vama while also providing a detailed account of human development. It stretches for 95 chapters through 10,000 shlokas and also conveys the teachings of the Vedas and Upanishads in a simplified form.

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8. Matsya Purana

Instead of having a specific subject matter, the Matsya Purana contains an overview of all Puranas. It falls under Tamas and features 290 chapters relayed in 14,000 shlokas. It is quite an interesting study for every researcher because it can be interpreted into many life lessons.

9. Brahmanda Purana

The Brahmanda Purana reveals the secrets of the universe. It tells us the story of the origin of the Brahmanda and how the Navagrahas were created. The origin story of every other celestial body is also included in this Purana which belongs to the Rajas category.

10. Garuda Purana

The Garuda Purana extends for 279 chapters in 18,000 shlokas. Throughout this Purana, you will find conversations between Lord Vishnu and his vahana, Garuda. These conversations are mostly found to be around good and evil, Truth, and Death.

11. Kurma Purana

In the Kurma Purana, Lord Vishnu is the narrator himself. It records his experiences during the Samudra Manthan when he assumed the avatar of a tortoise. The conflict between the Devas and the Asuras during this period has several lessons that can benefit mankind. These lessons are also mentioned in this Puran which is 4 chapters long and contains 18,000 shlokas.

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12. Skanda Purana

The Skanda Purana is divided into 7 chapters: Maheswara, Vishnu, Brahma, Kasi, Avanti, Nagara, and Prabhasa, and 81,000 shlokas. On reading the shlokas, you will find clear mentions of the Himalayan regions. This Purana is mostly concerned with the history and geography of India.

13. Linga Purana

The Linga Purana falls under the Tamas Guna and conveys the teachings of Lord Shiva. You will find several conversations and stories about the heavenly cow, Nandi, and a devout disciple of Lord Shiva, Dhruva. This spans 163 chapters in 11,000 shlokas.

14. Bhavishya Purana

As the name suggests, the Bhavishya Purana features stories and events from the future. You will also find the teachings and virtues of Lord Surya mentioned in the words of Lord Brahma. There are 129 chapters in this Purana with 28,000 shlokas.

15. Markandeya Purana

This Purana features several stories which convey valuable life lessons. For example, the first one features four birds that teach us how to distinguish between right and wrong. It belongs to the Rajas Guna and goes on for 137 chapters with 9000 shlokas.

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16. Bhagvata Purana

You will find all the teachings and virtues of the 18 Puranas in the Bhagvata Purana. It emphasizes the importance of spirituality with the help of 12 chapters and 18,000 shlokas. It establishes the superiority of the divine power with the help of stories from Lord Vishnu and Mahabharata.

17. Vishnu Purana

There are several mythological stories surrounding Lord Vishnu which are found in this Vishnu Purana. The narrator in this Purana is Sage Parashara who imparts valuable knowledge and teachings through his conversations with his student, Rishi Maitreya.

18. Brahma Purana

The Padma Purana consists of 138 chapters and each one relays a vivid description of mythology, cosmology, and Dharma, the Universal Law which binds every living creature and celestial body. This Purana falls under Sattva and has an ample amount of information about the holy rivers and cities which are relevant to Hinduism.

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Conclusion

Hinduism is full of great wisdom and the 18 Puranas simply make it easier for people to grasp its significance. Interpreting the Vedas was quite complicated. However, the simplified version of the Puranas readily conveys the teachings of different aspects of human lives.

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