Puranas

The Puranas are a genre of ancient Indian literature considered sacred scriptures in Hinduism. They encompass mythological narratives, legends, hymns, as well as ritual and philosophical prescriptions.

The Puranas are pivotal for understanding the complexities of cosmology, theology, and society in ancient India. They are typically categorized into three groups: the major Puranas or "Mahapuranas", the minor Puranas or "Upapuranas", and the tamasic Puranas, associated with less orthodox practices. Each Purana is devoted to a primary deity among the three great deities of the Hindu pantheon: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The texts vary widely in terms of composition, dating from around 400 to 1500 AD, covering subjects from cosmogony to the genealogies of gods, kings, and saints, descriptions of the universe, laws of dharma, and pilgrimages. The eighteen Mahapuranas are the most renowned, with each text aimed at teaching the four goals of human life in Hinduism: dharma (duty), artha (prosperity), kama (pleasure), and moksha (liberation).