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Vedic Bytes

Puranas

Last month we explored the Mahapuranas. This month we will elaborate on how Mahapuranas are classified.

The Mahapuranas are classified by the three aspects of Trimurti: the triad of gods consisting of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. The Trimurti is the divine manifestation of the ultimate reality.

• Brahma Puranas
1. Brahma Purana
2. Brahmānda Purana
3. Brahma Vaivarta Purana
4. Mārkandeya Purana
5. Bhavishya Purana
6. Vāmana Purana
• Vishnu Puranas
1. Vishnu Purana
2. Bhagavata Purana
3. Nāradeya Purana
4. Garuda Purana
5. Padma Purana
6. Varaha Purana
• Shiva Puranas
1. Shiva Purana
2. Vāyu purana
3. Linga Purana
4. Skanda Purana
5. Agni Purana
6. Matsya Purana
7. Kūrma purana

In some schools of Hinduism, such as the Smarta or Advaita traditions, the Trimurti is a concept that holds that God has three aspects, which are only different forms of the same one God. The three aspects of God, or "Parabrahman," or God's personae are as Brahma (the Source/Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver/Indwelling-life) and Shiva (the Transformer -Destroyer/Creator).

Though all the three trimurti's are males, the hidden symbolism emphasizing female energy is not difficult to understand. Brahma was able to create because his consort is Sarasvati, the goddess of speech and learning. Similarly Vishnu's consort Lakshmi, is the Goddess of beauty and fortune making it possible for him to preserve the universe; and Durga, is the consort of Shiva.

The Trimurti itself is conceived of as a deity and artistically represented as a three-faced human figure. Brahma is no longer as relevant as He once was in Hindu writing; some would say that focus on the aspect of the all-in-one Devi or of Shakti, the Divine Mother or God's Power personified, has replaced focus on the Source/Creator as Brahma.

According to the Trimurti belief, these three personae of God are simply different aspects of the one and the same God.

Vaishnava classification by guna

Of the Mahapuranas it is said that six belong to the quality (guna) of goodness, six to passion, and six to ignorance. According to the Padma Purana,[7] these are the Mahapuranas and their corresponding qualities:

· Sattva ("truth; purity"): Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Naradeya Purana, Garuda Purana, Padma Purana, Varaha Purana

· Rajas ("dimness; passion"): Brahmanda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Markandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana

· Tamas ("darkness; ignorance": Matsya Purana, Kurma purana, Linga Purana, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana

To be continued…

References:

1. Vedic Samhitas and Brahmanas by Vishal Agarwal

2. http://www.answers.com/topic/puranas

3. http://www.answers.com/topic/trimurti

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