Features of the puranas
Scholars believe that the number of Mahapuranas of Vedic and Vaidic characters
as eighteen
Its antiquity is not mentioned as its formation and flowering is independent
tradition of
Puranic literature. Itihasa, Sruti and Smrti are part of the text. The
teacher and student
together bring the subject ,
object and instrument. The period of the puranas can be gauged
with reference to the text which it belonged and then the period. It
was the seers who gave
us this priceless gift to us. We should also salute the torch bearers
who have made these
texts more appealing to the common
man.
Features of the puranas
Following are the main features of the puranas
1.Creation
2.The intermediate creation
3.Dynasties of the gods and the patriarchs
4.The fourteen manus and their periods
5.Genealogy of the kings of the Solar and Lunar dynasty
6.Protection of the world by incarnations
7.Dissolution of the world
8.The cause of creation viz the Jiva and its Karmas
9.Modes of subsistence
10.The refuge- The Brahman
source: know the puranas – pustak mahal