Varaha Purana - Revision history

Gopalpurpp: corrected references and added references

2025-08-10T12:37:22Z

corrected references and added references

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:07, 10 August 2025
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			{{Short description\|Sanskrit text from the Puranas genre of literature in Hinduism}}
	{{italic title}}		{{italic title}}
	[[File:Varaha Purana, Sanskrit, Devanagari.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.5\|A page from the ''Varaha Purana'' (Sanskrit, Devanagari)]]		[[File:Varaha Purana, Sanskrit, Devanagari.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.5\|A page from the ''Varaha Purana'' (Sanskrit, Devanagari)]]
	{{Hindu scriptures}}		{{Hindu scriptures}}
	The '''''Varaha Purana''''' ({{~~lang-~~sa\|वराह पुराण}}, {{IAST\|Varāha Purāṇa}}) is a Sanskrit text from the [[Purana]]s genre of literature in [[Hinduism]].{{Sfn\|Dalal\|2014\|p=444}} It belongs to the [[Vaishnavism]] literature corpus praising [[Narayana]] ([[Vishnu]]), but includes chapters dedicated to praising and centered on [[Shiva]] and [[Shakti]] ~~(goddesses it calls Brahmi, Vaishnavi and Raudri)~~.{{Sfn\|Dalal\|2014\|p=444}}{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}}		The '''''Varaha Purana''''' ({{langx\|sa\|वराह पुराण}}, {{IAST\|Varāha Purāṇa}}) is a Sanskrit text from the [[Purana]]s genre of literature in [[Hinduism]].{{Sfn\|Dalal\|2014\|p=444}} It belongs to the [[Vaishnavism]] literature corpus praising [[Narayana]] ([[Vishnu]]), but includes chapters dedicated to praising and centered on [[Shiva]] and [[Shakti]].{{Sfn\|Dalal\|2014\|p=444}}{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}}

	The text exists in many versions, with major sections lost to history.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}} The text has been estimated to have been first completed between the 10th and 12th centuries, and continuously revised thereafter.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}}{{Sfn\|Hazra\|1940\|p=96}} The surviving manuscripts of this text are notable, like ''[[Linga Purana]]'', because they do not cover the required ''Panchalakshana'' (five characteristics) expected in a Purana.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}} Scholars have questioned whether it really qualifies as a Purana, and whether the extant manuscripts are merely a religious manual largely focussed on Vaishnava practices,{{Sfn\|Hazra\|1940\|p=96}}{{Sfn\|Winternitz\|1922\|p=544}} with sections that also praise Shiva, Shakti and other gods in a secular way.{{Sfn\|Dalal\|2014\|p=444}}{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}}		The text exists in many versions, with major sections lost to history.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}} The text has been estimated to have been first completed between the 10th and 12th centuries, and continuously revised thereafter.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}}{{Sfn\|Hazra\|1940\|p=96}} The surviving manuscripts of this text are notable, like ''[[Linga Purana]]'', because they do not cover the required ''Panchalakshana'' (five characteristics) expected in a Purana.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}} Scholars have questioned whether it really qualifies as a Purana, and whether the extant manuscripts are merely a religious manual largely focussed on Vaishnava practices,{{Sfn\|Hazra\|1940\|p=96}}{{Sfn\|Winternitz\|1922\|p=544}} with sections that also praise Shiva, Shakti and other gods in a secular way.{{Sfn\|Dalal\|2014\|p=444}}{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}}

	The ''Varaha Purana'' includes mythology, particularly of the [[Varaha]] incarnation ([[avatar]]) of Vishnu rescuing the earth ([[Prithvi]]) at the time of a great flood.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}}{{Sfn\|K P Gietz\|1992\|pp=29–31 with notes 148 and 152}} The text also includes mythology of goddesses and Shiva,{{Sfn\|Winternitz\|1922\|p=544}} and a discussion of [[Karma]] and [[Dharma]] called ''Dharmasamhita''.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|p=242}} A large portion of the text is dedicated to medieval geographic ''Mahatmya'' (tourist guides){{Sfn\|Ariel Glucklich\|2008\|p=146, '''Quote''': The earliest promotional works aimed at tourists from that era were called ''mahatmyas''}} to temples and sites in [[Mathura]] and [[Nepal]], but it ~~curiously~~ lacks adoring [[Krishna]] in Mathura-related section of the type found in other Puranas.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|p=242}}{{Sfn\|Wilson\|1864\|p=74}}		The ''Varaha Purana'' includes mythology, particularly of the [[Varaha]] incarnation ([[avatar]]) of Vishnu rescuing the earth ([[Prithvi]]) at the time of a great flood.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|pp=241–242}}{{Sfn\|K P Gietz\|1992\|pp=29–31 with notes 148 and 152}} The text also includes mythology of goddesses and Shiva,{{Sfn\|Winternitz\|1922\|p=544}} and a discussion of [[Karma]] and [[Dharma]] called ''Dharmasamhita''.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|p=242}} A large portion of the text is dedicated to medieval geographic ''Mahatmya'' (tourist guides){{Sfn\|Ariel Glucklich\|2008\|p=146, '''Quote''': The earliest promotional works aimed at tourists from that era were called ''mahatmyas''}} to temples and sites in [[Mathura]] and [[Nepal]], but it lacks adoring [[Krishna]] in Mathura-related section of the type found in other Puranas.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|p=242}}{{Sfn\|Wilson\|1864\|p=74}}

	==History==		==History==
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	==Contents==		==Contents==
	[[File:~~Varahapurana~~.jpg\|thumb\|~~upright=1.5\|Illustration from the Varahapurana~~, ~~Kalyananagaryam: Laksmivenkatesvara Mudranalaye~~, ~~1923.~~]]		[[File:Varaha avtar, killing a demon to protect Bhu, c1740.jpg\|thumb\|Varaha killing Hiranyaksha and saving Bhumi, 1740 CE, [[Chamba, Himachal Pradesh\|Chamba]] painting]]
	The printed editions of this work, depending on the version, has 217 or 218 ''adhyāya''s (chapters).{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|p=241}} The [[critical edition]] (edited by Anand Swarup Gupta, and published by the All-India Kashiraj Trust, Varanasi) has 215 chapters.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|p=241}} The Hindu tradition and other Puranas claim that this text had 24,000 verses;{{Sfn\|Hazra\|1940\|p=7 with footnote 42}} however, surviving manuscripts have less than half that number.{{Sfn\|Wilson\|1864\|pp=73–74}}		The printed editions of this work, depending on the version, has 217 or 218 ''adhyāya''s (chapters).{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|p=241}} The [[critical edition]] (edited by Anand Swarup Gupta, and published by the All-India Kashiraj Trust, Varanasi) has 215 chapters.{{Sfn\|Rocher\|1986\|p=241}} The Hindu tradition and other Puranas claim that this text had 24,000 verses;{{Sfn\|Hazra\|1940\|p=7 with footnote 42}} however, surviving manuscripts have less than half that number.{{Sfn\|Wilson\|1864\|pp=73–74}}

->Jayanthkumar123 at 04:49, 8 October 2021

2021-10-08T04:49:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:19, 8 October 2021
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	*[https://archive.org/details/VarahaPurana ''Varaha Purana''] by [[Vyas]]. Published by: [[Sri Venkateswar Steam Press\|Venkateshwar Steam Press]], Bombay (lg. [[Sanskrit]])		*[https://archive.org/details/VarahaPurana ''Varaha Purana''] by [[Vyas]]. Published by: [[Sri Venkateswar Steam Press\|Venkateshwar Steam Press]], Bombay (lg. [[Sanskrit]])

	{{Puranas}}		{{Puranas}}{{Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala}}

	[[Category:Puranas]]		[[Category:Puranas]]

imported>245CMR: Undid revision 1033837460 by 223.182.55.98 (talk), unsourced

2021-07-16T08:55:20Z

Undid revision 1033837460 by 223.182.55.98 (talk), unsourced

New page

{{italic title}}
[[File:Varaha Purana, Sanskrit, Devanagari.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A page from the ''Varaha Purana'' (Sanskrit, Devanagari)]]
{{Hindu scriptures}}
The '''''Varaha Purana''''' ({{lang-sa|वराह पुराण}}, {{IAST|Varāha Purāṇa}}) is a Sanskrit text from the [[Purana]]s genre of literature in [[Hinduism]].{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=444}} It belongs to the [[Vaishnavism]] literature corpus praising [[Narayana]] ([[Vishnu]]), but includes chapters dedicated to praising and centered on [[Shiva]] and [[Shakti]] (goddesses it calls Brahmi, Vaishnavi and Raudri).{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=444}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=241–242}}

The text exists in many versions, with major sections lost to history.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=241–242}} The text has been estimated to have been first completed between the 10th and 12th centuries, and continuously revised thereafter.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=241–242}}{{Sfn|Hazra|1940|p=96}} The surviving manuscripts of this text are notable, like ''[[Linga Purana]]'', because they do not cover the required ''Panchalakshana'' (five characteristics) expected in a Purana.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=241–242}} Scholars have questioned whether it really qualifies as a Purana, and whether the extant manuscripts are merely a religious manual largely focussed on Vaishnava practices,{{Sfn|Hazra|1940|p=96}}{{Sfn|Winternitz|1922|p=544}} with sections that also praise Shiva, Shakti and other gods in a secular way.{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=444}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=241–242}}

The ''Varaha Purana'' includes mythology, particularly of the [[Varaha]] incarnation ([[avatar]]) of Vishnu rescuing the earth ([[Prithvi]]) at the time of a great flood.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=241–242}}{{Sfn|K P Gietz|1992|pp=29–31 with notes 148 and 152}} The text also includes mythology of goddesses and Shiva,{{Sfn|Winternitz|1922|p=544}} and a discussion of [[Karma]] and [[Dharma]] called ''Dharmasamhita''.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=242}} A large portion of the text is dedicated to medieval geographic ''Mahatmya'' (tourist guides){{Sfn|Ariel Glucklich|2008|p=146, '''Quote''': The earliest promotional works aimed at tourists from that era were called ''mahatmyas''}} to temples and sites in [[Mathura]] and [[Nepal]], but it curiously lacks adoring [[Krishna]] in Mathura-related section of the type found in other Puranas.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=242}}{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|p=74}}

==History==
The century in which ''Varaha Purana'' was composed is unknown. Wilson suggested 12th-century, during the period of [[Ramanuja]] influence.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=242}} Most scholars concur that this is a relatively late Purana,{{Sfn|Hazra|1940|p=96}} and a few suggest that the first version of this text was complete by the 10th century.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=242}} The text is named after the [[Varaha]] (boar) avatar of Vishnu, wherein he rescues goddess earth.{{Sfn|Winternitz|1922|p=544}}

The text is mentioned and summarized in the manuscripts of the ''Matsya Purana'', ''Skanda Purana'' and the ''Agni Purana'', but the description of this text in those documents suggests that surviving manuscripts of ''Varaha Purana'' are entirely different from what it once was.{{Sfn|Hazra|1940|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Jar4V3piCeQC&pg=PA96 96–97]}}{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|p=73}} The text exists in many versions, with significant variations.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=241–242}}{{Sfn|K P Gietz|1992|p=981 with note 5694}}

The ''[[Padma Purana]]'' categorizes ''Varaha Purana'' as a [[Sattva]] Purana.{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|p=12}} Scholars consider the ''Sattva-Rajas-Tamas'' classification as "entirely fanciful" and there is nothing in this text that actually justifies this classification.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=21}}

==Contents==
[[File:Varahapurana.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Illustration from the Varahapurana, Kalyananagaryam: Laksmivenkatesvara Mudranalaye, 1923.]]
The printed editions of this work, depending on the version, has 217 or 218 ''adhyāya''s (chapters).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=241}} The [[critical edition]] (edited by Anand Swarup Gupta, and published by the All-India Kashiraj Trust, Varanasi) has 215 chapters.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=241}} The Hindu tradition and other Puranas claim that this text had 24,000 verses;{{Sfn|Hazra|1940|p=7 with footnote 42}} however, surviving manuscripts have less than half that number.{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|pp=73–74}}

According to the [[Narada Purana]], this text has two parts: ''purvabhaga'' and ''uttarabhaga''. While the contents of the ''purvabhaga'' summarized in the Narada text generally correspond to the extant manuscripts of the ''Varaha Purana'', the ''uttarabhaga'' summarized in the Narada text is not found in surviving Varaha manuscripts, and presumed lost to history.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=241}}

According to Rajendra Hazra, the extant text has four distinct sections, differing in interlocutors and general characteristics.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=241–242}} These sections were likely composed in different time periods, by different authors.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=241}}{{Sfn|Hazra|1940|p=97}}

In the first section (chapters 1 to 112), [[Ugrasrava Sauti|Suta]] is the narrator and [[Varaha]] and [[Prithvi]] are the interlocutors. In the second section (chapters 113 to 192), Suta narrates what was told by Prithvi to [[Sanatkumara]] about the dialogue between Varaha and herself. In the third section (chapters 193 to 212), Suta describes the conversation between the king [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] and the sage [[Vaishampayana]]. This section is also known as the ''Dharma Samhita''. In the final section (chapters 213 to end), Suta narrates the conversation between [[Brahma]] and Sanatkumara.{{Sfn|Hazra|1940|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Jar4V3piCeQC&pg=PA96 96–97]}}

==See also==
*''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''
*''[[Vishnu Purana]]''
*''[[Shiva Purana]]''
*''[[Markandeya Purana]]''

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|author=Gregory Bailey|editor=Arvind Sharma|title=The Study of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npCKSUUQYEIC|year=2003|publisher=University of South Carolina Press|isbn=978-1-57003-449-7}}
*{{cite book|first = Rosen|last= Dalal|year= 2014|title= Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide| publisher= Penguin|isbn= 978-8184752779| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Dimmitt | first1 = Cornelia | first2 = J. A. B. |last2 = van Buitenen | title = Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=re7CR2jKn3QC| publisher = Temple University Press (1st Edition: 1977) | year = 2012 | isbn =978-1-4399-0464-0 }}
*{{cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy|author-link=Wendy Doniger |title={{IAST|Purāṇa Perennis}}: Reciprocity and Transformation in Hindu and Jaina Texts |year=1993 |publisher=State University of New York |location=Albany, New York |isbn= 0-7914-1382-9}}
*{{cite book|author=K P Gietz|display-authors=etal|title=Epic and Puranic Bibliography (Up to 1985) Annoted and with Indexes: Part I: A - R, Part II: S - Z, Indexes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kgpLBpUCufwC&pg=PA870|year= 1992|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-03028-1}}
*{{cite book|author=Ariel Glucklich|title=The Strides of Vishnu : Hindu Culture in Historical Perspective: Hindu Culture in Historical Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KtLScrjrWiAC| year=2008| publisher=Oxford University Press| isbn=978-0-19-971825-2 }}
*{{cite book| first=Rajendra Chandra| last= Hazra|title=Studies in the Puranic Records on Hindu Rites and Customs| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Jar4V3piCeQC| year=1940| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (1987 Reprint) |isbn=978-81-208-0422-7}}
*{{Cite book|first=Ludo |last=Rocher| year= 1986| author-link= Ludo Rocher| chapter= The Puranas| editor=Jan Gonda| title=A History of Indian Literature. Vol. II, Epics and Sanskrit religious literature, Fasc.3| location=Wiesbaden| publisher= Otto Harrassowitz Verlag| isbn= 978-3-447-02522-5}}
*{{cite book |last= Wilson |first=H. H. |author-link= Horace Hayman Wilson|title=The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition (Volume 1: Introduction, Book I) |year=1864 | url=https://archive.org/stream/vishnupurnsyst01wils#page/n3/mode/2up | publisher=Read Country Books (reprinted in 2006) |isbn=1-84664-664-2}}
*{{cite book |last=Winternitz |first=Maurice |author-link= Moriz Winternitz |title=History of Indian Literature Vol 1 (Original in German, translated into English by VS Sarma, 1981) |year=1922 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (Reprint 2010) |location=New Delhi |isbn= 978-8120802643 }}

==External links==
*[http://texts.00.gs/Varaha_Purana.htm Contents of one manuscript of the ''Varāha Purāṇa''], S. V. Iyer (1985)
*[https://archive.org/details/VarahaPurana ''Varaha Purana''] by [[Vyas]]. Published by: [[Sri Venkateswar Steam Press|Venkateshwar Steam Press]], Bombay (lg. [[Sanskrit]])

{{Puranas}}

[[Category:Puranas]]