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## 20
## Adipurana
Jain Acharyas have always given impetus to the progress of Indian literature. Let alone ancient languages, the initial undertaking of the Hindi language was also done by Jain Acharyas. If the Jain community develops intellect and brings its entire literature to light in a modern way with full force, then the whole world will be humbled by their virtues. This is my personal belief.
## Purana
In Indian religious texts, the word Purana is used along with history. Many people have considered history and Purana as the fifth Veda. Chanakya, in his Arthashastra, has counted history in the Atharvaveda and included Itivritta, Purana, Akhyayika, Udaharana, and Dharmashastra in history. This proves that history and Purana are both different, even though Itivritta is mentioned as being similar, both have their own unique characteristics.
The lexicographers have considered the characteristics of Purana as follows:
"Sargashcha pratisargashcha vansho manvantaraani cha.
Vanshanucharitam chaiva puranam panchalakshanam ||"
A Purana is that which describes creation, recreation, lineage, Manvantaras, and lineage traditions. Creation, recreation, etc. are the five characteristics of Purana.
Itivritta only mentions the events that happened, but Purana, while mentioning the events of great men, also describes the fruits and consequences, merit and demerit obtained from them. Along with this, it also displays moral and religious sentiments in between, as opposed to the expectation of character building in an individual. Itivritta only mentions current events, but Purana also mentions the past and future lives of the hero, and that is because ordinary people can understand how a great man can be made. What sacrifices and austerities need to be done to rise from the low to the high. Purana has a very important place in the construction of human life. This is the reason why the faith of ordinary people in it is still intact as before.
The Purana literature of the non-Jain community is very extensive. There are 18 Puranas there, whose names are as follows: 1 Matsya Purana, 2 Markandeya Purana, 3 Bhagavata Purana, 4 Bhavishya Purana, 5 Brahmanda Purana, 6 Brahmavaivarta Purana, 7 Brahma Purana, 8 Vamana Purana, 9 Varaha Purana, 10 Vishnu Purana, 11 Vayu or Shiva Purana, 12 Agni Purana, 13 Narada Purana, 14 Padma Purana, 15 Linga Purana, 16 Garuda Purana, 17 Kurma Purana, and 18 Skanda Purana.
These eighteen are called Mahapuranas. Apart from these, the Garuda Purana also mentions 18 Upapuranas, which are as follows:
1 Sanatkumar, 2 Narasimha, 3 Skanda, 4 Shiv dharma, 5 Ascharya, 6 Naradya, 7 Kapil, 8 Vamana, 9 Ausanas, 10 Brahmanda, 11 Varun, 12 Kalika, 13 Maheswar, 14 Samb, 15 Sour, 16 Parashar, 17 Marich, and 18 Bhargav.
In Devi Bhagavata, the names Shiva, Manav, Paditya, Bhagavata, and Vasishtha are mentioned in place of Skanda, Vamana, Brahmanda, Marich, and Bhargav respectively.
Apart from these Mahapuranas and Upa