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7. PURANAS, TEMPLES AND THEIR DATES
CHAPTER 7
PURANAS, TEMPLES AND THEIR DATES
Purana means ancient tales. All the major puranas are written in Sanskrit and are therefore necessarily written after the second century AD.
According to tradition, the Puranas were composed by Vyasa at the end of Dvapara Yuga. The bulk of the material contained in the Puranas was established during the reign of the Guptas (320-500 CE). Puranas are constantly evolving that new additions to the old tales are being constantly added.
Traditionally it is said that there are 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Upapuranas. Each Mahapurana lists eighteen canonical puranas, but the contents of each list vary reflecting differences in time and place.
"vaisnavam naradiyanca tathabhagavatam subham garudanca tathapadmam varaham subhadarsane sattvikanipuranani vijneyani subhani vai brahmandam brahmavaivartam markandeyam tathaiva ca bhavisyam vamanam brahmam rajasani nibodhame matsyam kaurmam tathalaingam saivam
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