Vishnu Mahapuran

The different works known by the name of Puranas (or old) are evidently derived from the mythoheroic stage of Hindu belief. The Puranas are commonly stated to be eighteen in number. It is said there are also eighteen Upa or Minor Puranas but the names of all these are not found. The principal eighteen Puranas are Brahma, Padma, Visnu, Siva, Bhagavata, Naradiya, Markandeya, Agni, Bhavisya, Brahma Vaivarta, Kurma, Matsya, Garuda and Brahmanda. All these Puranas are classed into there groups according to the qualities which prevail in them. The Matsya Purana remarks that those in which glory of Hari or Visnu prevails are Sattvika; those in which the legends of Agni of Siva predominate are Tamasa and those which dwell most on the stories of Brahma are Rajasa. The Visnu Purana was narrated by Parsara to his pupil Maitreya. It is divided into six parts, each of which is subdivided into many chapters. The first, part gives an account of creation, which is attributed to Purusa and Prakrit Visnu, who is Paramatman, described to create the universe so that the souls might perform their karma (work) and attain moksa (salvation) by means of God-realization. Creation is due to His mercy (krpa) and is His sport (Lila). The follow accounts of the avatara (incarnation) of Lord Visnu as varaha (boar), of the Svayambhavamanvantara, of the Prajapatis (lords of creation), of the churning of the ocean which yielded nectar (amrta). The life of Dhruva who, by his devotion of Visnu, was lifted to the supreme height of the Dhruvamandala. Dhruva’s descendants are then described. The power of faith is Visnu, finds its most magnificent expression in the legend of Prahlada. Th second part describes the earth and the nether worlds, and the courses five characteristics were thought to be meant for the Upapuranas. In the Mahapuranas genealogies of the kings and sages were discussed often fabricated and sections on holy places etc., were composed by different time