Studies in the Epics and Puranas c10.11

c10.11

The number of Mahāpurāṇas being restricted by tradition to eighteen, both Śiva and Vāyu cannot be included in the number. Dr. Farquhar, however, has raised the number to twenty by including not only both the Śiva and Vāyu but also the Harivaṃśa;⁸ but there is no support either from tradition or from any other source for such a view. The Kūrma incorporates both the Śiva and Vāyu in its list, but the list appears to be defective as it omits the Agni which has been unanimously included in the Mahāpurāṇas by all the lists.⁹ As both Vāyu and Śiva cannot find a place in the Mahāpurāṇas one of them will have to be ruled out.