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7. PURANAS, TEMPLES AND THEIR DATES
Classification
The Mahapuranas are also classified by the three aspects of Trimurti, and of the Kashmiri Nagas.
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Brahma Puranas: Brahma Purana, Brahmānda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Mārkandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vāmana Purana Vishnu Puranas: Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Nāradeya Purana, Garuda Purana, Padma Purana, Varaha Purana Shiva Puranas: Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana, Kūrma Purana, Matsya Purana, Vayu Purana Naga Purana: Nilamata Purana (Kashmir)
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Authorship, name and chronology
Traditionally, the Puranas are said to have been composed by the sage Veda Vyasa. Vyasa in Sanskrit means 'Divider,' and some scholars therefore take this simply as a term meaning 'Editor'. These texts, were probably produced by ordinary people all over India which were collected, collated and composed
In Siva Purana, Lord Siva is highly eulogised and an inferior position is given to Lord Vishnu. Sometimes Vishnu is belittled. In Vishnu Purana, Lord Hari is highly eulogised and an inferior status is given to Lord Siva. Sometimes Lord Siva is belittled. Thus the Puranas often contradicts each other. This has developed as each opposing sects invented their derogatory tales to belittle the others. There were periods in Indian history when they persecuted other groups.
"Apart from these 18 Puranas, there are also 18 Upapuranas or subsidiary Puranas, which were composed after the major ones. ....The Puranas are a valuable source from which to trace the development of Hinduism. They mark the next stage in beliefs after the Vedas. Hinduism, as practiced today, is largely inspired by the Puranas." http://www.lebensplan.com/puranas/
Dates
The oldest Purana is believed to date back to 300 AD, and the most recent ones to 1300 - 1600 AD. Although they have been composed at different times, all the Puranas seem to have been revised at a later date. This is apparent because all of them state that the total number is 18. The Puranas vary greatly in length: the Skanda Purana is the longest with 81,000 couplets, while the Brahma Purana and Vamana Purana are the shortest with 10,000 couplets each. The total number of couplets in the Puranas collectively is 400,000. (http://www.gurjari.net/ico/Mystica/html/purana.htm)
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