In the Kaliyuga which is the age of hypocrisy and quarrel, to understand the Absolute Truth is not easy unless guided by a bona fide spiritual master. To find a bona fide Guru is in itself a challenging situation. The spiritual master (Guru), the devotees (Sadhu), and the Vedic scriptures (Shastra) are the authoritative sources for gaining spiritual knowledge. The Vedic scriptures, according to the Vedas, are coming directly from the Supreme Lord Himself. They deal with both material and spiritual knowledge and were compiled by Shri Vyasadev around five thousand years ago for the benefit of the rare inquisitive people in this disturbed age of Kali. The general mass of the population is engrossed in gratifying their senses through material pleasure and knows nothing about the ultimate goal of human life.
The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (Set of 2 Volumes)
The Vedic scriptures are vast and include various literatures including the four Vedas (Rig, Atharva, Yajur, and Sama), the Puranas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Vedanta Sutra. These are all breathed out effortlessly by the Absolute Truth.
The Four Vedas: Rgveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda
Although the four Vedas are considered the pre-eminent authority, the Puranas are known as the fifth Vedas. At the beginning of the creation, there had been a single Veda, the Atharva Veda. Shri Vyasadev then divided the one Veda into four. He then further expanded these Vedas into eighteen Puranas to make them more understandable to people who couldn’t retrieve the essence of the Vedas. Thus Puranas are the cream of all Vedic knowledge and are known as “Smriti” – that which is remembered.
ऋग्यजुः सामाथर्वाख्या वेदाष्चत्वार उद्धृताः । इतिहास पुराणञ्च पञ्चमो वेद उच्यते ।। (Srimad Bhagavatam 1:4:20) Translation: "The Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda are the four Vedas, and the fifth Veda is called Itihasa-Purana."
Are Puranas for less intelligent people? This question is often raised when considering the authenticity and significance of Puranas. All the Acharyas in the line of disciplic succession have authorized Puranas as the ocean of in-depth knowledge about the Absolute Personality of Godhead. Although the Vedas are the foremost source of knowledge, Puranas are for the audience which understands and learns through stories and transcendental pastimes. Thus to say that Vedas are for the intelligent class of people and Puranas are for the less intelligent is not a fact.
( Matsya Purana 53:64) (Kūrma Purāṇa 1:1:12) (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, 4:133:6) (Suta Samhita 1:1:33) (Vishnu Purana 3:6:25) (Vayu Purana 4:10)Translation: These five topics are covered in the Puranas - 1. Manvantara Vijñana (Knowledge of Manus or the cyclic periods of time) 2. Sarga Vijñana (Knowledge of Creation) 3. Pratisarga Vijñana (Knowledge of Recreation) 4. Vamsha Vijñana (Knowledge of Genealogy) 5. Vashanucharita Vijñana (Knowledge of Dynasties and their conduct)Understanding the concept of Puranas
The compiler of the Vedic literature, Shri Vyasadev, even after preparing the vast fund of knowledge in the Vedas, Upanishads, and Ithihas, was still dissatisfied in his mind. He had mentioned the all-round welfare of the general mass of people (Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha). He had worshiped the Vedas following strict vows and performed all the prescribed ritualistic sacrifices. In the Mahabharata, he had showcased the importance of following the disciplic succession. But he was still feeling he was missing the essence of Vedic knowledge. He then understood the cause of this ill feeling. He did not specifically point out the Bhagavad Dharma of living entities which is to engage in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord. This is the most dear to the pure devotees and the Lord and this is the path which can completely satisfy the heart of all – the Path of Bhakti.
It was then that Shri Vyasadev who is an incarnation of Lord Narayana started writing the Puranas for the ultimate benefit of the conditioned souls in the material world. He created divisions and sets of Puranas for like-minded people to the degree of their faith and the influence of modes of material nature on them.
There are 18 main (Maha) Puranas namely – Vishnu Purana, Naradiya Purana, Padma Purana, Garuda Purana, Varaha Purana, Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Markandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, Linga Purana, Shiv Purana, Skanda Purana, and Agni Purana.
Complete 18 Puranas (Set of 86 Books)
According to Prakasha Samhita 1:4:32 – 34): वाराहं वैष्णवं पाद्मं वायुप्रोक्तं च गारुडम्। श्रीमद्भागवतं चैव सात्विकानीति हि श्रुतिः॥ ब्रह्माण्डं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं च वामनम्। भविष्यं नारसिंहं च राजसानि षडैव हि॥ मात्स्यं कौर्म्यं तथा लैङ्ग्यं शैवं स्कान्दं तथैव च। पाशुपतसंज्ञिकं चेति तामसानि विदो विदुः॥
Translation: Varaha, Vishnu, Padma, Vayu, Garuda and the Srimad Bhagavata Purana are Sattvic puranas. Brahmanda, Brahmavaivarta, Markendeya, Vamana, Bhavishya and Narasimha Purana are always Rajasic. Matysa, Kurma, Linga, Siva, Skanda and the Pasupata Sastra are Tamasic in nature.
There are 18 Upa Puranas which are considered secondary and are less known:
Synopsis of the 18 UPA Puranas
Sanatkumara Purana, Narasimha Purana, Brhan Naradiya Purana, Shiva Rahasya Purana, Durvasa Purana, Kapila Purana, Vamana Purana (a different Purana with the same as that of the Maha Purana), Bhargava Purana, Varuna Purana, Kalika Purana, Samba Purana, Nandi Purana, Saura Purana, Parasara Purana, Aditya Purana, Mahesvara Purana, Bhagavata Purana (another Purana with the same name as the Maha Purana), and Vasishtha Purana.
Sattvik Puranas are for persons who are at the level of mode of goodness. They worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vishnu, Narayana, or Krishna. Rajasic Puranas are for those who operate in the mode of passion and worship Lord Brahma or Agnidev. Those who are at the level of mode of ignorance can understand Tamasic Puranas and worship Lord Shiva or various forms of Goddess Durga.
The Puranas are the treasure trove of spiritual and philosophical insights presented through a series of characters, narratives, and pastimes.
How the universe was created by Lord Brahma, is maintained by Lord Vishnu, and is destroyed by Lord Shiva with his transcendental Tandav dance movements – it is all elaborately described in the Puranas.
The various incarnations of the Supreme Lord Vishnu (Matsya, Kurma, Narasimha, Varaha, and many more), the churning of the ocean of milk (Samudra Manthan), and the glories of the holy places are mentioned in the Padma Purana.
The Vishnu Purana describes the teachings of the sage Narada Muni in his instructions to several devotees emphasizing pure devotion to Lord Vishnu.
The Garuda Purana gives detailed information about the nature of the soul, Karma or Kala Chakra, and the destination of the soul after it leaves the body.
In the great Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Sukadeva Goswami narrates the pastimes of the All-Attractive Lord Krishna to King Parikshit on the banks of the Ganges. The various pastimes of the Lord are full of transcendental nectar and spiritual teachings.
Puranas deal with the four Purusharthas or goals to lead a fulfilling human life in accordance with the Vedic injunctions. Dharma (duty or righteousness), Artha (material prosperity), and Kama (sense enjoyment) are the fundamental aspects of life and are aimed at achieving the purpose of human life – Moksha (liberation).
Dharma Artha Kama Moksha- 40 Insights into Happiness
One can find these elements displayed in the stories of the Puranas. Abiding by the laws of the Vedas to harmonize morality, power, enjoyment, and renunciation is taught in the literature.
But interestingly, some Puranas go beyond the four Purusharthas and speak of developing pure love for the Supreme and performing devotional service to Him. Srimad Bhagavatam vividly explains through the pastimes of Lord Krishna with His pure devotees how being His devotee solves all the problems of life and the ultimate goal of human life is automatically achieved.
The word Purana means “very old” or “ancient” and thus is interpreted as mythological or outdated in the modern era. However, just as the laws of material nature do not change with time, the knowledge of the Puranas remains eternal and ever-fresh. Each story and character in the literature presents a specific lesson for the general mass of people who are conditioned with six senses including the mind.
Contemporary Hinduism seems diverse and differentiated into various traditions, faiths, and beliefs. However, all the branches are connected to the same root foundation. The pastimes of the deities such as Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Lord Krishna, Goddess Durga, Goddess Durga, Goddess Parvati and others are meant to elevate the conditioned beings from materially engrossed to the level of religiously inclined and ultimately bring them on the path of pure devotional service.
The Purana literature encompasses the wisdom of creation, genealogies of deities, rules for living and descriptions of various planetary systems. In many Puranas, the revered sages including Narada Muni, Bhrigu Muni, Markandeya Rishi, and Shri Vyasadeva provide guidance for living morally and following the religious principles. In human society, two classifications of Dharma are always prevalent in all ages.
Varnashrama Dharma – There are four Varnas (Social orders) and four Ashramas (stages in life).
The four Varnas are Brahman (priests, teachers, and intellectuals), Kshatriya (the administrators), Vaishya (agriculturists and mercantile community), and Shudra (labor community). The four Ashramas are Brahmachari (student life trained as celibate), Grihastha (householder life), Vanaprastha (retirement), and Sanyasa (renounced order of life).
The Varnashrama system of life is based on an individual’s personal qualities and innate tendencies for work influenced by the material modes of nature (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas Guna). In this way, when one remains satisfied in their material life, they strive for higher knowledge and thus become eligible to understand the spiritual substance given in the Puranas. The relevance of Puranas in the modern world is not dejected since the constitutional position of every living entity is to remain in spiritual bliss, full of eternity and transcendental knowledge.
Vedas and Upanishads are part of the Vedic literature that delineate various concepts in Hinduism through the Guru Shishya Parampara such as the nature of the soul, reincarnation, karma, and liberation. Although Puranas also describe these aspects, they do it by narrating pastimes that have happened in the past millenniums – Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. These illustrations help the audience connect with the descriptions of the deities and thus develop a personal relationship with them.
The Vedas and Upanishads mention “what” the codes of conduct and the Puranas describe “how” to practice them.
Although Puranas direct the goal of human life to liberate oneself from the vicious cycle of birth and death, it harmonizes different paths to achieve it – Karma Yoga (performing duty without attachment to fruitive results), Jnana Yoga (the Yoga of spiritual knowledge), Ashtanga Yoga (meditating on the form of the Super Soul within one’s heart), and Bhakti Yoga (the Yoga of devotion to the Supreme).
This ladder of Yoga is proposed in the Puranas to bring the individual to the next level in their spiritual journey. Each step on the ladder is authentic when practiced according to the injunctions and not whimsically.
The Vedas authenticate the authority of Puranas that provide the full picture of Hindu or Vedic life and its concepts. By reading the Puranas, one can know how and why to lead a spiritual life to attain the goal of the human form of life. The spiritual insights mentioned acknowledge their sustaining the Hindu tradition by eliciting ancient history and human civilization. The vast volumes of knowledge embedded in the Puranas encourage present-day philosophers to explore and study them to inspire people to take up the path of transcendence. Each narration, storyline, and character in the Puranic lore is connected to a lesson and represents the eradication of the Anarthas (unwanted qualities) thereby developing the transcendental qualities which are receptive to liberate oneself from worldly attachments.
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