AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PURANAS

Main Puranas are 18 in number. 18 is considered to be a very 
auspicious number. There are 18 chapters in Bhagavad-gita. 
Srimad-Bhagavatam has 18.000 verses. Mahabharata has 18 parvas.

MADVAYAM BHA-DVAYAM CAIVA
BRA-TRAYAYM VA-CATUSTAYAM
ANAPALINGA-KUSKANI
PURANANI PRTHAK PRTHAK

The titles of two Puranas start with "Ma", two with "Bha", three with 
"Bra", four with "va", and seven other respecively with "A", "Na", 
"Pa", "Ling", "Ga", "Ku" and "Ska".

2 M - Matsya and Markandeya
2 "Bha" - Bhagavata and Bhavisya
3 "Bra" - Brahma, Brahmanda & Brahmavaivarta
4 "Va" - Vamana, Varaha, Visnu and Vayu
  "A" - Agni
  "Na" - Naradiya
  "Pa" - Padma
  "Ling" - Linga
  "Ga" - Garuda
  "Ska" - Skanda

VAISNAVAM NARADIYAM CA TATHVA BHAGAVATAM SUBHAM
GARUDAM CA TATHA PADMAM VARAHAM SUBHADARSANE
SATTVIKANI PURANANI VIJNEYANI SUBHANI VAI 
BRAHMANDAM BRAHMAVAIVARTAM MARKANDEYAM TATHAIVA CA
BHAVISYAM VAMANAM BRAHMAM RAJASANI NIVODHATA
MATSYAM KAURMAM TATHA LAINGAM SKANDAM VAYUM TATHAIVA CA
AGNEYAM CA SACETANI TAMASANI NIVODHATA

Visnu Purana, Naradiya Purana, Bhagavat Purana, Garuda Purana, Padma 
Purana and Varaha Purana are sattvik Puranas. Brahmanda, 
Brahmavaivarta, Markandeya, Bhavisya, Vamana and Brahma Puranas are 
rajasik. Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Skanda, Vayu and Agni Puranas are 
tamasik.

Visnu Purana

Visnu Purana has six parts. First part has 22 Chapters, second 16, 
third 18, fourth 24, 5th 38 and 6th 8 chapters. 

The 22 chapters of 1st part of Visnu Purana describe the story of 
creation.

The second part: Through questions and answers between Parasara and 
Maitreya describes the geography of the planetary system with its 
oceans, islands, varsas, rivers, and mountains. Seven lower planetary 
system - atal, vital nital, gabhastimat, mahatal, sutal and patal. 
Then there is a description of svarga loka or heavenly planets, and 
naraka or hellish planets. Then origin of Ganga, cause of rain. Story 
of Jada Bharat and his instructions to King Saubir have been 
described.

Third part: Detailed description of "manvantar" or the reign of the 
Manus. Story of Sun god. Detailed description of Vedas and its 
branches. Description of varnasram dharma. Duties of householders. 
Sraddha samskar, or performance of spiritual rites for the departed 
souls, has been described in detail.

4th part: Stories of different royal families. Moon dynasty; story of 
Yayati. Description of five favous ksatriya families, namely - Yadu, 
Turvasu, Druhyu, Anu and Puru.

5th part: Pastimes of Sri Krishna. Subduing Kaliya, killing of 
Dhenuka, lifting of Govardhan, killing of Aristasura, killing of Kesi 
demon, prayers of Akrura, entereing into Mathura, killing of Kamsa, 
learning the art of using of weapons, killing of Kalayavana, marrying 
Rukmini, killing of Narakasura, Aniruddha's wedding, stealing of Usha, 
burning of Vanarasi, and finally Krsna's return to the spiritual sky.

6th part: Parasar Muni describes about Kali yuga, then he describes 
different types of annihilation. Finally he describes devotional 
service and its purpose.


Naradiya Purana

It has four sections and 125 chapters. Srila Sanatan Gosvami profusely 
quoted from this Purana.

There is another Purana called Brihannaradiya Purana. But when we 
study them then we can see that Naradiya Purana is actualy an 
elaborated version of Brahmavaivarta Purana.

Although Suta Goswami is the main speaker of this Purana and the sages 
are the audience, he quotes different sages in different sections.

The speaker of the first secton is Sanaka. The speaker of the second 
is Sananda. The speaker of the third is Sanat Kumar and the speaker of 
the fourth Sanatana. Narada Muni is the original recipient.

First section deals with creation, and different pious religious 
activities.

Second section describes the way to attain liberation, introduction to 
different Vedas.

Third section describes the tantrik process of initiation, 
purification of mantra, application of mantra, thousand verses in 
glorification of Visnu, Lord Siva's prowess. 

Fourth section describes five different symptoms of Puranas, 
introduction and summary of different Puranas, process of offering 
charity in different months of the year, results of offering charity; 
description of differnt vratas (performance of religious vows and 
penances).