Study of Purānic literature in Hindu’s popular culture and religion

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

This article aims to introduce a part of Hindu literature that constitute a considerable volume of Hindu sacred texts. Purānic literature is a division which includes two principal parts, each of them embraces several Purānas: Purānic literature can be divided into two main branches which each contains different purānas: 1. Mahāpurāna or Great Purānas, 2. Upapurānas or Secondary Purānas. Purāna literally means “old” “ancient”, and Hindu sects refer to purāna as the "fifth Veda" and give them a position equal with the fourfold Vedas. These texts which were derived from the oral literature and belonged to Kṣatriya caste(warriors), reflected Hinduʼs history, popular culture and religion.Considering Puranic literature structure some scholars suggest that they should be considered as classic literature. Of the many texts designated “Puranas” the most important are the Mahāpurāṇas or the major Purānas. These are said to be eighteen in number, divided into three groups of six, and each group belongs to one of the three major sects of Hinduism. 

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References

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