The Geography of the Puranas c6.1

c6.1

THE word 'Purāṇa' means 'old'. The main object of the compilation of the Purāṇas is to preserve old traditions which come down from remote antiquity. They are derived from the same religious system as the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata and present peculiarities which point to their belonging to a later period, and to an important modification in the progress of opinion. They are popular sectarian compilations of different periods, of mythology, philosophy, history, geography and the sacred law, intended, as they are now used, for the purpose of religious instruction. A Purāṇa according to an early definition,¹ best exemplified by the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, should treat of five subjects, namely, primary creation, secondary creation, genealogies of gods and patriarchs, reigns of various Manus and the history of ancient dynasties². This definition, however, is totally inapplicable to some of the Purāṇas, while it applies only partially to others. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa mentions its scope and source in the following words³: