[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879) › c5.314 # A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.314 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.314 - **Language:** English ### [c5.314](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.314) BRAHMA PURĀNA. In all the lists of the Purānas the Brahma stands first, for which reason it is sometimes entitled the Ādi or “First” Purāna. It was repeated by Brahmā to Marīchi, and is said to contain 10,000 stanzas, but the actual number is between 7000 and 8000. It is also called the Saura Purāna, because “it is, in great part, appropriated to the worship of Sūrya, the sun.” “The early chapters give a description of the creation, an account of the Manwantaras, and the history of the Solar and Lunar dynasties to the time of Krishna in a summary manner, and in words which are common to it and several other Purānas. A brief description of the universe succeeds; and then come a number of chapters relating to the holiness of Orissa, with its temples and sacred groves, dedicated to the sun, to Siva, and Jagan-nātha, the latter especially. These chapters are characteristic of this Purāna, and show its main object to be the promotion of the worship of Krishna as Jagan-nātha. To these particulars succeeds a life of Krishna, which is word for word the same as that of the Vishnu Purāna; and the compilation terminates with a particular detail of the mode in which Yoga or contemplative devotion, the object of which is still Vishnu, is to be performed. There is little in this which corresponds with the definition of a Pancha-lakshana Purāna, and the mention of the temples of Orissa, the date of the original construction of which is recorded, shows that it could not have been compiled earlier than the thirteenth or fourteenth century.”—Wilson. - [Previous: c5.313](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.313) - [Next: c5.315](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.315) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.314](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.314) · Pramāṇa