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Essay name: Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas

Author: Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit

The essay studies the Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas by exploring the significance of the ten principal incarnations of Lord Vishnu as depicted in various ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The research also investigates the social, political, philosophical, and religious impact.

Conclusion

Page:

2 (of 7)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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A retrospect of the Vaiṣṇava Purāṇas recognises two desciplines
of Dharma; Sādhāraṇa (common) and Viseṣa (specific). The individual
who forms an integral part of human society owes a duty to himself
i.e., coming under specific type of Dharma. In this respect, the
purāṇas have made a successful attempt in synthesising both
and. The former includes the position of certain humanising
virtues and the actions based thereon; and the latter is practical
application of the former within a particular sphere of prominent
qualities. With these fundamentals, if the Purāṇas are read between
the lines of various descriptions whether human or divine one does
realise the comprehensive role of the Purāṇas in raising the Indian
culture to its fullest stature. In this perspective, a glimpse of
Vaiṣṇava Purāṇas illustrates these ideals by means of illustrative
explanations of the kings and different incarnates of Lord Viṣṇu.
With a view to highlighting the glory and grandeur of Lord Visṇu in
His various incarnations, one should have atleast a bird's eye-view
of the contents of the Purāṇas. As such, the thesis in its second
chapter entitled as “Varieties of Myths" offers the literature of myths
in the world History. The myths which may be divided into Hindu
Myths and non-Hindu myths imbibe wide literature in the Vedas,
Brāhmaṇas, Upanisads and the Purāṇas. Ofcourse, some of Greek
myths and Christian myths coming under the group of non-Hindu
myths, bare their own antiquity and historicity. But a comparative
study of these myths makes it clear that the Hindu myths which
are described in the Purāṇas are more interesting and unique in
themselves.

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