Puranas
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Puranas are a vast genre of Hindu Literature that include a wide range of topics, especially legends and other traditional lore. The Puranas are known for the intricate layers of symbolism depicted wi
The Goddess Durga Leading the Eight Matrikas in Battle Against the Demon Raktabija, Folio from Devi Mahatmyam, Markandeya Purana.
The Puranas include cosmos creation myths such as the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean). It is represented at Bangkok airport, Thailand.
The mythology in the Puranas has inspired many reliefs and sculptures found in Hindu temples. The legend behind the Krishna and Gopis relief above is described in the Bhagavata Purana.
Detail of a Padmasali Purana Scroll, courtesy The Wovensouls Collection, Singapore
Garuda Purana
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The Sanskrit text Garuda Purana is one of 18 Mahapuranas in Hinduism. The Garuda Purana was likely composed in the first millennium CE, with significant expansions and revisions occurring over several
Puranas
…literature, where the Vayu Purana, Matsya Purana, and Aditya Upa Purana admit the Devi Bhagavata Purana as a Mahapurana, whereas the Padma Purana, Garuda Purana and Kurma Purana consider it an Upapurana. There are discussions on whether the Devi Bhagavata Purana is a Mahapurana. The difference between Upapuranas…
A page from a Garuda Purana manuscript (Sanskrit, Devanagari)
The text of the Garuda Purana revolves around the god Vishnu, as recited by Garuda. Above: Vishnu and Lakshmi on Garuda (Delhi National Museum).
Vishnu