The Purana Index v1.c3.s1.8

v1.c3.s1.8

Though we have been dealing with the Vedic origin of the Purāṇa there are informing stanzas in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa which deal with their origin and evolution. According to this testimony, Vyāsa, the sage, originally compiled what is known as the Purāṇa Samhitā and taught it to his disciple Lomaharṣaṇa. He was the Sūta or the professional chronicler. Because he was a Sūta we must not misunderstand that he held an inferior position Lomaharṣaṇa was, on the other hand, a great sage. He had under him six disciples. These were Agnivarcha, Maitreya, Sāṁśapāyana, Kāśyapa and Sāvarṇi. To them he imparted the Purāṇa Samhitā as he heard it from his guru Vyāsa. He and his disciples were then the famous chroniclers of ancient India and their versions were respectfully heard in different learned assemblies, specially called for on the occasion of the performance of great yajñas by the reigning monarch of the realm.