PURANAS

The Puranas are the basis for getting knowledge about history, culture and heritage of the bygone eras. Most of the puranas provide details of the lineage’s and the role they provided in the upliftment of the society.

Since they are voluminous, Sage Vyasa was provided with the responsibility of compiling the puranas. Every period had their own Vyasa who did this work meticulously, Krishnadvaipayana (son of Parasara) had taken up the responsibility for this Yuga.

Purana’s provide knowledge of Vedas in a simple and lucid manner other than providing history and genealogy. That is the reason why Puranas have become more famouse compared to Vedas as it is within the reach of a common person.

There are 18 Puranas, which can be understood from the following three heading:

SATTVIC PURANAS – GLORIFYING LORD VISHNU
(1) Vishnu Purana
(2) Naradiya Purana
(3) Srimad Bhagavata Purana
(4) Garuda (Suparna) Purana
(5) Padma Purana
(6) Varaha Purana

RAJASIC PURANAS – GLORIFYING LORD BRAHMA
(7) Brahma Purana
(8) Brahmanda Purana
(9) Brahma Vaivarta Purana
(10) Markandeya Purana
(11) Bhavishya Purana
(12) Vamana Purana

TAMASIC PURANAS – GLORIFYING LORD SHIVA
(13) Matsya Purana
(14) Kurma Purana
(15) Linga Purana
(16) Siva Purana
(17) Skanda Puarana
(18) Agni Purana

UPA- PURANAS

Apart from 18 Puranas there are 18 Upa-Puranas which are as under:-
(1) Sanatkumara
(2) Narasimha
(3) Brihannaradiya
(4) Sivarahasya
(5) Durvasa
(6) Kapila
(7) Vamana
(8) Bhargava
(9) Varuna
(10) Kalika
(11) Samba
(12) Nandi
(13) Surya
(14) Parasara
(15) Vasishtha
(16) Devi-Bhagavata
(17) Ganesha
(18) Hamsa

BRAHMANA

Brahmana are prose works that are appended to the Vedas:

VEDA: Rig-Veda…………………Brahmana: Aitareya-Brahmana; Kaushitaka-Brahmana
VEDA: White Yajur-Veda……Brahmana: Satapatha-Brahmana
VEDA: Black yajur-Veda…….Brahmana: Taittiriya-Brahmana
VEDA: Sama-Veda……………..Brahmana: Eight Brahmana
VEDA: Atharva-Veda…………Brahmana: Gopatha-Brahmana

They are esoteric keys to the ceremonial magic of the Vedas.

This great article is taken from below book:
Book Name: INDIA, Known things Unknown secrets
Writer: R. VENUGOPALAN
ISBN: 81-8056-373-1
Book Code: BV-5725
Publisher: Health Harmony, New Delhi, India