Studies in the Upapuranas
by R. C. Hazra | 1958 | 320,504 words
This book studies the Upapuranas: a vast category of (often Sanskrit) literature representing significant historical, religious, and cultural insights of the ancient Indian civilization. These Upa-Purana texts provide rich information, especially on Hinduism covering theology, mythology, rituals, and dynastic genealogies....
Chapter 9.8 - The Brhad-ausanasa-upapurana (study)
This work [brhad-ausanasa-upapurana] is not mentioned in any of the lists of Upapuranas, nor is it drawn upon or referred to by any comparatively early author. Even among the late Nibandhawriters we have not found one who betrays his knowledge
of this Upapurana. So, it seems to have been composed at a late period. There are, of course, Manuscripts of a Vindhyamahatmya61 which claims to be a part of this Upapurana. As one of these Manuscripts is dated Samvat 1924, our Upapurana must have been written earlier than that date.
61 For Manuscripts of the Vindhya-mahatmya, with the commentary of Vaidyanatha, see Haraprasad Shastri, V, pp. 745-747, Nos. 4086 (dated Samvat 1940) and 4087 (dated Samvat 1924), and R. L. Mitra, III, pp. 306-8, No. 1285. According to Mitra the Vindhya-mahatmya deals with the 'topography of certain sacred places on the Vindhya Hills, and the religious merit to be acquired by pilgrimage to them'. It also contains the names of the eighteen Puranas and Upapuranas (in chapters 3 and 4 respectively), the praise of Devi Vindhyavasini, Tarakesvara and the Ganges, the stories of Tarakasura, of the demons Hunda and Tuhunda and of Sumbha and Nisumbha, and the description of the method of Devi-worship, which is imbued with Tantric elements.