[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [The Purana Index](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dikshitar-1951) › v1.c3.4 # The Purana Index v1.c3.4 The Purāṇa Index v1.c3.4 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dikshitar-1951.v1.c3.4) Among the early Indologists it was Lassen who critically examined the application of the epithet Pañchalakṣaṇa to the extant Purāṇas (Indische Alterthumskunde, Vol. I, p. 499). No doubt the five topics of a Purāṇa are not to be found in all the Purāṇas; but that they deal with these topics in one way or other is a fact beyond dispute. Ancient lexicographers like Amarasimha attribute the five characteristics to a Purāṇa treatise. These five characteristics are: (1) Sarga or primary creation, (2) Pratisarga, secondary creation, (3) Vamśa or genealogy of gods and patriarchs, (4) Manvantara or epocs of Manu, (5) Vamśānucharita, or history of kings of solar and lunar races and their descendants. A close study of Purāṇa literature shows that the Purāṇas as a whole deal with the evolution of the Universe, recreation of the Universe from the constituent elements, genealogies of gods and seers, groups of great ages included in aeons (Kalpa) and the history of royal families of the Kali age. - [Previous: v1.c3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dikshitar-1951.v1.c3.3) - [Next: v1.c3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dikshitar-1951.v1.c3.5) - [Up: v1.c3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dikshitar-1951.v1.c3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dikshitar-1951.v1.c3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dikshitar-1951.v1.c3.4) · Pramāṇa