About the Book
Purāņas are the treasure house of knowledge. The Paurāņika literature is encyclopedic and it includes diverse topics such as cosmogony, cosmology, genealogies of gods & goddesses, kings sages, demigods, folk tales, pilgrimages, temples, medicine, astronomy, grammar, mineralogy, theology and philosophy.
The number of Purāṇas are eighteen. The Bhavisya Purāņa is the embodiment of knowledge of Present, Past and Future. It seems it has been written by sage Vyāsa at the end of all seventeen Purāņas.
Bhavisya Purāna is adorned with fourteen vidyās (knowledge) of the four Vedas, the six Angas of the Vedas, Dharmaśāstra, Mīmāṁsā, Tarka or Nyāya and other Purāņas. In addition to these fourteen vidyās, this Purāņa contains four other vidyās such asĀyurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharvaveda and Arthaśāstra.
Bhavisya Purāņa has been divided into four parvas, 1. Brāhma Parva, 2. Madhyama Parva, 3. Pratisarga Parva, 4. Uttara Parva. Brāhma Parva deals with the stories of gods and goddesses, but on the whole the emphasis on this parva is praising and worshipping Sungod with merits of listening to his glory, performing his holy vratas (vows) and observing his fast. Madhyama Parva of the Bhavisya Purāņa is primarily a Tantra-related work. It has been divided into three parts. Third Pratisarga Parva of the Bhavișya Purāņa is a treasure of Indian history of Medieval period in which future incidents have been presented in past tense. The last parva of the Bhavisya Purāņa is Uttara Parva. This parva is the treasure of Karmakāņda and charities observing festivity.
The present edition of Bhavişya Purāņa is the first ever complete English translation of the original Sanskrit text in devanāgarī that also includes an exhaustive introduction, notes and an index of Sanskrit verses at the end of third volume of this book.
Introduction
The word Purāna literally means ancient or old. They are known for the intricate layers of symbolism depicted within their stories. The Paurānika literature is encyclopedic and it includes diverse topics such as cosmogony, cosmology, genealogies of gods, goddesses, kings sages, demigods, folk tales, pilgrimages, temples, medicine, astronomy, grammar, mineralogy as well as theology and philosophy. They have been influential in the Hindu culture, inspiring major national and regional festivals of Hinduism.
Purāņas are the treasure house of knowledge. They are full of past occurrence, full of legends, history, Hindu mythology, Indian vast culture, purificatory rituals, sacred works done by gods and goddesses, kings, sage envoys and omnipresent special human beings. From curse to boon, every happening of these periods from Vedic era to the medieval period has been categorically explained by the great sage and great historian
Sage Vyāsa retired to the wilderness as soon as he was born, and there led the life of a hermit practising the most rigid austerities until he was called by his mother Satyavati to beget sons on the widows of her son Vicitravīrya. He was thus the father of Pāņdu and Dhstarāștra and also of Vidura. He was at first called Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana from his dark complexion and from his having been brought forth by Satyavati on a dvīpa or island; but afterwards he became popular as Vyāsa or the arranger, as he is supposed to have arranged the Vedas in their present form.
He is believed to be the author of the great epic Mahābhārta. The eighteen Purānas as also the Brahmasūtras and several other works are also ascribed to him. He is one of the seven ciranjīvins or deathless persons on this earth.
The very purpose of the compilation of purāņas by sage Vyāsa was to differentiate between good and bad. Welfare of Others is yuet (good) and inflicting pain to others is 99 (oad).
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