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)