The Purana Index v1.c3.s3.6

v1.c3.s3.6

A study of the religion and philosophy of the Purāṇa shows that the Purāṇa is a typical representative of the transformation of the old Yoga school incorporating into it the salient features of both Yoga and Sānkhya. This metamorphosis took place perhaps in the period of the Upanishads, and therefore may be dated roughly in the fifth century B.C. It is interesting to know that the Purāṇa prescribes feeding of Yogis and ascetics for the Śrāddha, a practice which has long fallen into disuse. The fact that the Purāṇa harps on this is itself an eloquent testimony to its antiquity. It may be noted in passing that this Purāṇa does not preach exclusive worship of a particular deity.