Categorized
List of the 18 Puranas
Puranas with Lord Vishnu
as the Predominating Deity (Sattva Guna):
1)
Vishnu Purana - 23,000 verses.
Stories
of various devotees; a description of varnasrama; the
six angas of the Veda; a description of the age of
Kali; description of Sveta-Varaha Kalpa, Vishnu dharmotara.
2)
Naradiya Purana - 25,000 verses.
This
Purana contains a synopsis of everything; it describes Jagannatha
Puri, Dwaraka, Badrinatha, etc.
3)
Padma Purana - 55,000 verses.
Contains
the glory of Srimad-Bhagavatam; the stories of Rama, Jagannatha,
Matsya, Ekadasi, Bhrgu, etc.
4)
Garuda Purana - 19,000 verses.
Subject
of Bhagavad-gita; reincarnation; visnu-sahasra-nama; description
of Tarsya Kalpa.
5)
Varaha Purana - 24,000 verses.
Describes
different vratas; Lord Vishnu's glories.
6)
Bhagavata Purana - 18,000 verses. (included by some
in the mode of goodness)
Puranas with Lord Brahma
as the Predominating Deity (Rajo Guna):
7)
Brahmanda Purana - 12,000 verses.
Describes
the vedangas; describes the Adi Kalpa.
8)
Brahmavaivarta Purana - 18,000 verses.
Contains
the glories and pastimes of Radha and Krishna.
9)
Markandeya Purana - 9,000 verses.
Stories
of Rama and Krishna.
10)
Bhavisya Purana - 14,500 verses.
Contains
the glories of devotional service; prediction of Lord Chaitanya.
11)
Vamana Purana - 10,000 verses.
Contains
the story of Lord Trivikrama.
12)
Brahma Purana - 10,000 verses.
Puranas
with Lord Shiva as the Predominating Deity (Tamo Guna):
13)
Matsya Purana - 14,000 verses.
Temple
construction; describes Vamana and Varaha Kalpas.
14)
Kurma Purana - 17,000 verses.
Contains
the conversation between Krishna and the Sun-god (mentioned
in Bhagavad-gita); Danvantari; Describes the Lakshmi Kalpa.
15)
Linga Purana - 10,000 verses.
Contains
the glory of Lord Nrismhadeva; Janardhana; the story of Ambarisa;
the glories of Gayatri.
16)
Shiva Purana - 24,000 verses.
17)
Skanda Purana - 81,000 verses.
18)
Agni Purana - 15,400 verses.
Contains
the description of Salagrama; Describes the Isana Kalpa.
All
these Puranas describe five subjects. The Amarkhosa describes
the Puranas as follows:
sargas ca pratisarga ca
vamsa manvantarani ca
vamsanu caritam capi
puranam panca laksanam
A
Purana describes:
1) sarga (creation)
2) pratisarga (recreation)
3) vamsa (history of the sages)
4) manvantara (periods of Manu)
5) vamsanucarita (geneology of kings)
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