The 18 Maha Puranas form a captivating tapestry of Ancient Indian wisdom, seamlessly weaving tales of gods, goddesses, heroes, and cosmic wonders in the rich fabric of Sanskrit literature. Rooted in the Sanskrit language, these profound texts explore a myriad of subjects, from cosmology to philosophy. Named after revered deities like Brahma, Vishnu, and Lord Shiva, these encyclopedic works delve into the realms of mythology, kingship, medicine, and more. Authored by diverse minds over centuries, the Maha Puranas stand as a testament to India’s intellectual heritage, offering a kaleidoscopic view into its cultural and spiritual tapestry.

Brahma Purana: With over 10,000 verses, it explores Lord Vishnu, Vayu, Markandeya Purana, and the Mahabharata, covering mythology, war theories, art techniques, and cultural topics.

Padma Purana: Comprising 55,000 verses, Padma Purana offers a Vishnu-centric perspective on cosmology, life, festivals, legends, and Indian geography, detailing travel and pilgrimage centers.

Vishnu Purana: With around 23,000 verses, it discusses Buddhism and Jainism in different versions, originating from South Asian regions, including Kashmir and Punjab.

Shiva Purana: With 2,400 verses, Shiva Purana narrates the story of Lord Shiva.

Bhagavata Purana: With 18,000 verses, it describes Vishnu’s avatars and emphasizes Vaishnavism, including details about various dynasties.

Narada Purana: Also known as Naradiya Purana, with 25,000 verses, it discusses the four Vedas, six Vedangas, philosophies, planets, astronomy, and characteristics of deities.

Markandeya Purana: With around 9,000 verses, it focuses on Western India, composed in the Narmada and Tapi river valleys in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Agni Purana: With 15,400 verses, it covers Mithila’s geography, cultural history, politics, education, war stories, diplomacy, etc.

Bhavishya Purana: Comprising around 14,500 verses, it deals with prophecies of the future.

Brahmavaivarta Purana: With around 18,000 verses, Brahmavaivarta Purana revolves around Narada, emphasizing Krishna and Radha‘s greatness and detailing river geographies from Ganga to Kaveri.

Linga Purana: It includes the discussion of Lingam, a symbol of Shiva, and the origin of the universe as per Shaivism.

Varaha Purana: With around 24,000 verses, Varaha Purana contributes knowledge of Vishnu-related worship and explores the geographical study of Mathura and Nepal.

Skanda Purana: Describing the birth of Skanda, son of Shiva, Skanda Purana is a pilgrimage guide with around 81,100 verses.

Vamana Purana: Comprising 10,000 verses, it includes details of the region of the Himalayan foothills.

Kurma Purana: Kurma Purana  contains a combination of verses describing Vishnu and Shiva and legends related to mythology, pilgrimage, and theology.

Matsya Purana: With 14,000 verses, Matsya Purana narrates the story of Matsya Avatar, the first of 10 major Avatars of Vishnu, and contains details of various dynasties.

Garuda Purana: An encyclopedia of diverse topics, praising all gods, describing cosmology, the theory of yoga, heaven and hell, karma and rebirth, and Upanishadic discussion of self-knowledge as a means of moksha.

Brahmanda Purana: With around 12,000 verses, one of the oldest Puranas, Brahmanda Purana contains genealogical details of various dynasties.