Purāṇas

The Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Religion, pp. 1–4

Abstract

The Purāṇas form a prolific genre of religious literature that constitutes the backbone of Brahmanical Hinduism. Purāṇas consist largely of mythological narratives and deal with such diverse topics as ritual, devotion, theology, origins of castes, pilgrimage, and sacred space. All Purāṇas show a concern for origins, history, time, and place. Many Purāṇas have a sectarian character and show a tendency to integrate all deities into an overarching system centered on one god who is the ultimate lord. Purāṇas have been frequently drawn upon by medieval thinkers in order to demonstrate the authority of a school of thought.

Authors 1

1. Peter C. Bisschop corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University, The Netherlands