Padma Purana

Padma Purana (Devanagari: पद्म पुराण), one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text, is divided into five parts. In the first part sage Pulastya explains to Bhishma about religion and the essence of the religion. The second part describes in detail Prithvi (earth). In the third part description of the cosmos is given, including creation, and description of India ("Bharata Varsha"). The fourth part describes the life and deeds of Rama. The fifth part is in the style of a dialogue between Shiva and his consort, Parvati, and deals with the essential knowledge about religion.

Contents

This text has come down to us in two recensions, the Bengal and the South Indian. The former recension consists of five "khanda"s (sections): "Shrishti Khanda", "Bhumi Khanda", "Svarga Khanda", "Patala Khanda" and "Uttara Khanda". The later recension consists of six "khanda"s: "Adi Khanda" (also called "Svarga Khanda" in some printed editions), "Bhumi Khanda", "Brahma Khanda", "Patala Khanda", "Srishti Khanda" and "Uttara Khanda". The "Bhumi Khanda" of the Bengal recension contains addtional thirteen chapters, while the "Patala Khanda" of this recension contains thirty-one additional chapters. The "Svarga Khanda" of this recension contains the descriptions about different regions ("loka"s) and narratives of kings and demons. The "Srishti Khanda" can be divided into two parts and the second part is not found in the Bengal recension. [Hazra, R.C. (1962). "The Puranas" in S. Radhakrishnan ed. "The Cultural Heritage of India", Calcutta: The Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Vol.II, ISBN 81-85843-03-1, p.261]

rishti Khanda

The "Srishti Khanda" (Book of the Creation) is in the form of a dialogue between Bhishma and the sage Pulastya. It also contains a detailed description of Pushkara, a famous place of pilgrimage. It is a matter of interest that some sections of this part is derisive of the worship of grahas (include, but not limited to, planets).

Bhumi Khanda

The "Bhumi Khanda" (Book of the Earth) has a description of Prithvi (the earth) and tales of kings like Prithu and Yayati and of several sages. Some scholars believe that the description of earth and tales of kings and sages in this Purana has factual elements of geography and history of that period.

varga Khanda

The "Svarga Khanda" (Book of Heaven) contains details of the sequence of creation of the cosmos. It also describes the significance and importance of holy places and geographical expansion and features of Jambudvipa, including its mountains and rivers. It also tells about the people of India in ancient times.

Patala Khanda

The "Patala Khanda" (Book of the Netherworld) Ugrasrava Sauti narrates the life story of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, to an assembly of sages. There are also sections devoted to the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.

Uttara Khanda

The "Uttara Khanda" presents the metaphysical aspects of religion in the form of a dialogue between Shiva and Parvati. This part also contains another version of Vishnu sahasranama (1000 names of Vishnu) (not the Mahabharata version and Rama sahasranama (1000 names of Rama). The name of this section is also applied to the Uttarakhand region of the Indian Himalayas over which Shiva and Parvati preside as the source of the Yamuna and Ganga rivers, abodes of Vishnu at Badrinath and Shiva at Kedarnath, and the Ganga's entry into the plains of India at Haridwar.

Notes

Further reading

*Mani, Vettam. "Puranic Encyclopedia". 1st English ed. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1975.

External links

* [http://www.bharatadesam.com/spiritual/padma_purana.php Summary of Padma Purana]
* [http://texts.00.gs/Padma_Purana,_1.htm Padma Purāna, 1st part]
* [http://texts.00.gs/Padma_Purana,_2-3.htm Padma Purāna, 2nd & 3rd parts]
* [http://texts.00.gs/Padma_Purana,_4-6.htm Padma Purāna, 5th & 6th parts]