Brahma Purana Pt. 2 (AITM Vol. 34): Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Vol. 34)

Politics & Social Sciences

J. L. Shastri

G.P. Bhatt

Social Sciences

Motilal Banarsidass

The purest gems lie hidden in the bottom of the ocean or in the depth of rocks. One has to dive into the ocean or delve into the rocks to find them out. Similarly, truth lies concealed in a language that with the lapse of time has become obsolete. Man has to learn that language before he discovers that truth. But he has neither the means nor the leisure to embark on that course. We have, therefore, planned to help him acquire knowledge by an easier course. We have started the series of Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology in English Translation. Our goal is to universalize knowledge through the most popular, international medium of expression. The publication of the Puranas in English translation is the step towards that goal.

The Bhagavata Purana (AITM) (v. 7) (Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology)

Agni Purana, Part 3

N. Gangadharan

Brahma-Purana, Part 3

Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Siva Purana - Part - 1 (Aitm - Vol. 1): Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology - Vol. 1

Siva Purana Pt. 1 (AITM Vol. 1): Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology (Vol. 1)

The Purana is a class of literature that treats of ancient religion, philosophy, history, sociology, politics and other subjects. It is an encyclopaedia of various branches of knowledge and ancient wisdom. It has been defined as a class of literature that contains material on the topics of Creation, Dis-solution of Manus, Ages of Manus, Genealogies and the History of glorious kings. For dealing primarily with these subjects it has been called Pancalaksana-a title that was incorporated in the Puranas themselves and had become popular by the Fifth Century A.D., for it was included by Amarasimha in his lexicon 'Amarakosa'. But as the process of interpolation continued, the Pancalaksana definition was found inadequate. The Puranic redactors adopted a Dasalaksana definition that suited the contemporary text. Still the dynamic forces were at work and the process of insertion, modification and abridgement went on and it was soon discovered that the Dasa-laksana definition too fell short of an actual fact. It was found that the puranas contained certain aspects that were not covered by any five or ten characteristics. The Puranas are divided into two classes-the Maha-puranas and the Upapuranas. Each class consists of eighteen puranas. Thus the number of the Puranas is thirtysix. Mahapuranas are classified into different categories-Vaisnava, Brahma, Saiva etc. Sivapurana has all the characteristics of a Mahapurana. According to the ancients, a Mahapurana contained five main characteristics that concerned either early religion or traditional history. Sivapurana possesses the conventional characteristics of a Mahapurana in common with its other colleagues. These entitle it to the status of a great Purana. But its real greatness lies in expounding the philosophical background of Siva ritual. The Purana conceives Siva as the eternal principle, the supreme god, the cosmic soul, the support of all existence. But the ignorant aspirant bound in the meshes of illusion goes in quest for knowledge and imagines that his lord has a personal form possessed of attributes distinct from his self, who in moments of distress responds to his prayers and bestows grace.

Siva Purana Pt. 2: Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology (Vol. 2) (Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Series)

Volumes 7-11 of the Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology series are devoted to the study of Bhagvata Purana. These cover different interpretations of the commentators, belonging to different schools, viz., Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Nimbarka, Vallabha, Caitanya, etc. Interpretations have been proved on the philosophical verses.

Bhagavata Purana, Vol. 9: Part 3 (Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology) (v. 9)

Vayu-Purana, Part 1

G. V. Tagare

The novelty of this book consists of the fact that it introduces the reader to the basic tenets of advaita vedanta in three independent but complementary ways: scripturally, rationally and experientially all the three elements are usually found intertwined in accounts of advaita vedanta they are presented distinctly here in the hope that each perspective will enrich one`s understanding of advaita vedanta as a whole and also allow the reader to form his or her own opinion about the relative merits of each approach

Siva Purana Pt. 3 (AITM Vol. 3): Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology (Vol. 3)

The Purana is a class of literature that treats of ancient religion, philosophy, history, sociology, politics and other subjects. It is an encyclopaedia of various branches of knowledge and ancient wisdom. It has been defined as a class of literature that contains material on the topics of Creation, Dis-solution of Manus, Ages of Manus, Genealogies and the History of glorious kings. For dealing primarily with these subjects it has been called Pancalaksana-a title that was incorporated in the Puranas themselves and had become popular by the Fifth Century A.D., for it was included by Amarasimha in his lexicon 'Amarakosa'. But as the process of interpolation continued, the Pancalaksana definition was found inadequate. The Puranic redactors adopted a Dasalaksana definition that suited the contemporary text. Still the dynamic forces were at work and the process of insertion, modification and abridgement went on and it was soon discovered that the Dasa-laksana definition too fell short of an actual fact. It was found that the puranas contained certain aspects that were not covered by any five or ten characteristics.  The Puranas are divided into two classes-the Maha-puranas and the Upapuranas. Each class consists of eighteen puranas. Thus the number of the Puranas is thirtysix. Mahapuranas are classified into different categories-Vaisnava, Brahma, Saiva etc.  Sivapurana has all the characteristics of a Mahapurana. According to the ancients, a Mahapurana contained five main characteristics that concerned either early religion or traditional history. Sivapurana possesses the conventional characteristics of a Mahapurana in common with its other colleagues. These entitle it to the status of a great Purana. But its real greatness lies in expounding the philosophical background of Siva ritual. The Purana conceives Siva as the eternal principle, the supreme god, the cosmic soul, the support of all existence. But the ignorant aspirant bound in the meshes of illusion goes in quest for knowledge and imagines that his lord has a personal form possessed of attributes distinct from his self, who in moments of distress responds to his prayers and bestows grace.

Siva Purana, Pt. 4: Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology (Vol. 4) (Ancient Indian Traditiona and Mythology Series)

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