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How many Puranas are there?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Correct Answer: B) 18.

Exam Relevance: UPSC Civil Services, SSC CGL, State PSC Exams, Bank PO Exams

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes:

Puranas are ancient Hindu religious texts that narrate the history of the universe, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods. There are 18 major Puranas, known as Mahapuranas, which are categorized into three groups based on the deity they primarily focus on: Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva.

Common Mistakes:

Confusing the number of Puranas with other religious texts or scriptures.
Not distinguishing between the Mahapuranas and other Puranic texts.
Assuming that the number of Puranas is a round number like 20 or 25.

Explanation:

Puranas are a genre of important Hindu religious texts that narrate the history of the universe, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods. They are a significant part of Hindu mythology and religious literature. The term "Purana" literally means "ancient" or "old," and these texts are considered to be ancient and authoritative sources of knowledge.

There are 18 major Puranas, known as the Mahapuranas, which are categorized into three groups based on the deity they primarily focus on: Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. Each group contains six Puranas, making a total of 18. The Vishnu Puranas are dedicated to the worship of Vishnu, the Brahma Puranas are dedicated to Brahma, and the Shiva Puranas are dedicated to Shiva.

The 18 Mahapuranas are:

1. Vishnu Purana

2. Naradiya Purana

3. Padma Purana

4. Garuda Purana

5. Varaha Purana

6. Vamana Purana

7. Bhagavata Purana

8. Brahma Vaivarta Purana

9. Markandeya Purana

10. Bhavishya Purana

11. Brahma Purana

12. Linga Purana

13. Skanda Purana

14. Agni Purana

15. Matsya Purana

16. Kurma Purana

17. Vayu Purana

18. Brahmanda Purana

In addition to the Mahapuranas, there are also Upapuranas, which are minor Puranas. However, the term "Puranas" generally refers to the 18 Mahapuranas.

The Puranas are not only religious texts but also contain a wealth of information on a variety of subjects, including cosmology, philosophy, mythology, genealogy, and geography. They are an essential part of Hindu culture and are widely studied and revered in India and other parts of the world where Hinduism is practiced.

Understanding the number and categorization of the Puranas is crucial for anyone studying Indian religious texts and Hindu mythology. The correct number of Puranas is 18, and this number is significant in the context of Hindu religious literature and mythology.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option is incorrect. The number of Puranas is not 15. The correct number is 18, which includes the 18 Mahapuranas. Students might mistakenly think the number is 15 if they are not familiar with the exact count of these ancient texts.
Option B: This option is correct. There are 18 Puranas, known as the Mahapuranas, which are a significant part of Hindu mythology and religious literature. These texts are categorized into three groups based on the deity they primarily focus on: Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva.
Option C: This option is incorrect. The number of Puranas is not 20. The correct number is 18, which includes the 18 Mahapuranas. Students might mistakenly think the number is 20 if they are not familiar with the exact count of these ancient texts.
Option D: This option is incorrect. The number of Puranas is not 25. The correct number is 18, which includes the 18 Mahapuranas. Students might mistakenly think the number is 25 if they are not familiar with the exact count of these ancient texts.

Mnemonic: Remember "18" as the number of Puranas by associating it with the age of majority in many cultures, signifying maturity and completeness.

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How many Puranas are there?

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