Brahma Purana
Also known as: Brahmapurana, Brahma-Purana, Adi Purana (so-called), Brahma Purāṇa
One of the eighteen Mahapuranas, the Brahma Purana presents cosmology, genealogies, avatars, sacred geography, and pilgrimage praises, interweaving myth, ritual prescriptions, and regional tirtha-mahatmyas within a composite Sanskrit prose-verse corpus.
Description
The Brahma Purana is a layered Sanskrit text that opens with cosmogony from primordial waters and the emergence of Brahma, outlines cyclical time (kalpas, manvantaras), and catalogs divine and royal lineages. It condenses narratives of Vishnu’s avatars, Shiva’s deeds, and key mythic episodes (creation, dissolution, and restorations of cosmic order). A large portion treats sacred geography—especially eastern Indian tirthas—with mahatmya sections praising pilgrimage circuits, temples, and rites. Framed as revelation attributed to Brahma, the text crystallized over centuries, blending mythic narrative, dharma guidance, and liturgical material into a canonical Purana used for instruction and devotion.
Historiography
The text survives in multiple recensions, reflecting a long redactional history typical of the Mahapuranas. Scholarly editions (e.g., Motilal Banarsidass’ Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology series) collate variant readings and indicate regional accretions, notably extensive tirtha-mahatmya material. Internal evidence and comparative Purana studies place the core compilation between late Gupta and early medieval periods, with later expansions adapting to local cults and temple ecologies. Modern translations and indices facilitate cross-referencing with parallel Purana passages and epic sources.
Date Notes
Purana strata are composite; an early core likely Gupta-era, with substantial redactional growth through the early second millennium. The work self-attributes to Brahma but is authorless in practice.
Archetypes
Major Characters
- Brahma
- Vishnu
- Shiva
- Saraswati
- Lakshmi
Myths
- Creation and Genealogies
- Glories of Sacred Places
- Legends of Shiva and Vishnu
- Dynasties of Kings
Facts
- Counted first among the eighteen Mahapuranas in several traditional lists.
- Composite text mixing verses and prose with extensive tirtha-mahatmya sections.
- Core layers likely crystallized in the Gupta–early medieval period.
- Narratives parallel and summarize epic and other Purana materials on avatars and dynasties.
- Cosmology structures time into kalpas, yugas, and manvantaras.
- Prominent attention to eastern Indian sacred sites, including Purushottama (Puri).
- Genealogical chapters link royal lines to cosmic origins.
- Ritual and vrata sections prescribe observances tied to lunar/solar calendars.
- Multiple recensions attest regional redactions and later accretions.
- Traditional authorship ascribed to Brahma; historically anonymous.