PURĀṆAS are extensive compendiums of the mytho-history of Bhāratvarṣa (the earlier name of the Indian subcontinent). They participate in the same mythological milieu as epic (itihāsa) and poetic (kāvya) works,...

Purana (Sanskrit: पुराण purāṇa), meaning "belonging to ancient or olden times", is the name of an ancient Indian genre (or a group of related genres) of Hindu or Jain literature (as distinct from oral tradition). They primarily are...