Essay name: Brahma Purana (critical study)
Author:
Surabhi H. Trivedi
Affiliation: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda / Department of Sanskrit Pali and Prakrit
This is an English study of the Brahmapurana鈥攐ne of the eighteen major Puranas which occupies an important place in the Pauranic literature. This study researches the rich an encyclopaedic material for social, religious, philosophical, mythological, political, geographical and literary study found in the Brahma-Purana.
Mythology
173 (of 195)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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of abode was Lanka in Ceylon. The Danavas 321 are a
643 class of demons often identified with the daityas or
Asuras and held to be implacable enemies of gods or devas;
the daityas322 are known as the sons of Diti; and the
Asuras are regarded as children of Diti by Kasyapa, as such
they are the demons of the first order in perpetual hostility
with the gods, and must not be confounded with the Raksasas
or imps who animate dead bodies and disturb sacrifices.
323 As regards their general description it would be
said that they were ugly and deformed. The names Sanku-
karna (A.3), Ekaksa (213.90) etc. suggest that they were
deformed. Many a times they were animal-shaped. The names
Kurmakukkutavaktra, sasolukamukha, Kharostravadana, Varaha-
vadana, Marjarasikhivaktra, Nakramesanana, Gojavimahisanana,
Godhasallakivaktra, Krostuvaktra, Akhudarduranaktra, Vrka-
mukha, Makaravaktra, Krauncavaktra, Asvanana, Kharamukha,
Mayuravadana, etc. suggest it (213.93-97). They live in
Rasatala, mountains, oceans, rivers, villages, forests,
sky, air and Jyotirloka (149.4,5). They wore various types
of dresses and decorated themselves with garlands and oint-
ments. They a wore didems, ear-rings, turbans, kiritaand
321 Ibid., P. 474.
322 Ibid., P. 497.
323 Ibid., P. 121.
