Who wrote puranas is not important but “Learning from them is Important”
The authorship of the Puranas is a bit complex. Traditionally, they are attributed to the sage Vyasa, the compiler of the Mahabharata. However, there are some key points to consider:
- Multiple Authors Over Time: Scholars believe the Puranas were likely written by many authors over a long period, perhaps centuries.
- Vyasa as Compiler: Vyasa may have compiled existing texts and traditions into the 18 major Puranas we know today.
- Title vs. Name: Some consider “Vyasa” a title given to whoever compiled a Purana.
So, while Vyasa is traditionally credited, the reasonable answer for the question “Who wrote puranas” is the Puranas are more likely a collection of works by various authors over time.
The speculation about the earliest written versions of the Puranas were probably compiled during the time of the Gupta Empire, between the 4th and 6th century CE , There are 18 major Puranas (Maha Puranas) and 18 minor Puranas (Upa Puranas), with over 400,000 verses.
They cover diverse topics such as cosmogony, cosmology, genealogies of gods, goddesses, kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, folk tales, pilgrimages, temples, medicine, astronomy, grammar, mineralogy, humor, love stories, as well as theology and philosophy.
There are several well-known Puranas. Here are a few of them:
- Bhagavata Purana: This is one of the most important Puranas and is highly revered. It primarily focuses on the life and teachings of Lord Krishna.
- Vishnu Purana: This Purana is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and contains stories about his various avatars, including Rama and Krishna.
- Shiva Purana: As the name suggests, this Purana is dedicated to Lord Shiva and contains stories about his life and teachings.
- Markandeya Purana: A portion of this Purana, known as Chandi or Devimahatmya, is well-known and is dedicated to the worship of God as the Divine Mother.
These Puranas are not only replete with information of all kinds but also very interesting to read.
The best approach is for “Who wrote puranas” is to read and understand them from teachers as they contain vast amount of ancient history and life lessons.
