INTRODUCTION :
The word Puranas covers a wide range of topics and it is mainly composed in Sanskrit, but also in Tamil and other Indian languages, and these are focussed the major Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Shiva and Devi and narrates their importance.
There are 18 Puranas and have been important in the Hindu culture. All Puranas praise Hindu gods and goddesses. The Bhagavata Purana has been the popular text in Hinduism and is considered as a very holy one, since it tells the leelas of Lord Krishna during his childhood. Sage Vyasa, is credited as the compiler of the Puranas.
The details of the 18 Puranas are as follows:-
1.Agni Purana
The Agni Purana, is one of the eighteen major Puranas of Hinduism. The text is classified as a Purana related to Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism, but also considered as a text that covers them all.
2.Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavatam , is one of Hinduism's eighteen Puranas. It is composed in Sanskrit and also in all major Indian languages, it promotes bhakti to Krishna. The Bhagavata Purana is a revered text in Vaishnavism.
3.Brahma Purana
The Brahma Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas in Sanskrit language. It is also called as Adhi Purana. Another title for this text is Saura Purana, because it includes many chapters related to the Sun god.
The Brahma Purana contains several passages from Mahabharata and Puranas such as the Vishnu, Vayu, Samba, and Markandeya.
4. Brahmanda Purana
The Brahmanda Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas.It is listed as the eighteenth Maha-Purana. It is one among the oldest Puranas.
The Brahmanda Purana includes the Lalita Sahasranamam, which tells the glory of Goddess Parvathi.
5. Brahma Vaivarta Purana
The Brahmavaivarta is a Sanskrit text and a Maha-purana of Hinduism. It features Krishna and Radha,and is a Vaishnavism text.
The text identifies Lord Krishna as the supreme reality, and asserting that all gods such as Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Ganesha,Muruga are the incarnations of Lord Krishna.
6. Garuda Purana
The Garuda Purana is one of 18 Mahapuraṇ in Hinduism. It is a part of Vaishnavism literature, primarily centering around Hindu god Vishnu and also praises all other gods.
The text contains relationship between gods, good versus evil, the theory of "heaven and hell" with "karma and rebirth" and ancestral rites.
7. Kurma Purana
The Kurma Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. The text is named after the tortoise avatar of Vishnu.
The Padma Purana categorizes Kurma Purana as a Tamas Purana.
8. Linga Purana
The Linga Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, and a Shaivism text of Hinduism.
The text tells us the worship of Linga, and is mainly focussed on Shiva as a Supreme God. However, along with the worship of Lord Shiva, the Linga Purana includes the importance for Vishnu and Brahma.
9. Markandeya Purana
The Markandeya Purana is a Sanskrit text of Hinduism, and is one of the eighteen major Puranas. The text's title Markandeya refers to a sage in Hindu mythology, who is the central character in two legends, one linked to Shiva and other to Vishnu.
The Markandeya text is probably one of the oldest Puranas in Hinduism.
10. Matsya Purana
The Matsya Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas, and among the oldest puranas in Hinduism. The text is named after the half-human and half-fish avatar of Vishnu.
A history written with five characteristics is called a Purana, states Matsya Purana.
11. Naradiya Purana
The Naradiya Purana, are two Sanskrit texts, one of which is a major Purana of Hinduism, while the other is a minor Purana.
The Naradiya Purana is notable for dedicating eighteen chapters on other Puranas.
The Naradiya Purana consists of two parts, with the first called Purvabhaga and second called Uttarabhaga.
12. Padma Purana
The Padma Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas, a classification of texts of Dharmic religions. It is named after the lotus in which creator god Brahma appeared, and includes large sections dedicated to Vishnu, as well as significant sections on Shiva and Shakti.
13. Shiva Purana
The Shiva Purana is one of the eighteen Puranas in Hinduism, and part of the Shaivism. It primarily focuses on the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati, and also tells the importance of all other gods.
14. Skanda Purana
The Skanda Purana is the largest Mahapuraṇa, is part of Shaivite literature, titled after Skanda, a son of Shiva and Parvati, who is also known as Kartikeya and Murugan. The text is named after Skanda. The text has been considered as an important one in hinduism and relates to the god Skanda. This Mahapurana, like others, is attributed to the sage Vyasa.
15. Vamana Purana
The Vamana Purana , is one of the eighteen major Puranas of Hinduism. The text is named after one of the incarnations of Vishnu and it was a Vaishnava text in its origin.
16.Varaha
The Varaha Purana is a ancient literature in Hinduism. It belongs to the Vaishnavism praising Narayana who took the form of varaha for safeguarding the earth goddess “Bhoomi Devi” from the demon Hiraniyakshan, and also praises on Shiva and Shakti.
17. Vayu Purana
The Vayu Purana is a Sanskrit text and one of the eighteen major Puranas of Hinduism. Vayu Purana is mentioned in Mahabharata and other Hindu texts, and it is considered that the text is oldest among the puranas.
18. Vishnu Purana
The 'Vishnu Purana’ is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, It is an important Pancharatra text in Vaishnavism.
It primarily tells the importance of the Hindu god Vishnu and his avatars such as Krishna, and also praises Brahma and Shiva and quotes that they are one with Vishnu. Vishnu Purana, like all major Puranas, attributes its author to be sage Veda Vyasa.
CONCLUSION
By reading all these 18 puranas, we will get enlightenment in our life. We will get a great punyam(Good Karma), and will find positive vibrations in our life. Our needs will get fulfilled, and all sorts of difficulties and problems in our life will get eliminated by reading these divine texts.Let us pray to the gods and the compiler of the puranas -“The Great Guru Sree Veda Vyasa” and chant their holy names and be blessed.
Guru Brahma,Guru Vishnu,Guru Devo Maheshwarah
Guru Saakshaat Para brahma
Tasmai Shri Guruveh Namaha
R.HARISHANKAR
