The Hindu Puranas are a vast body of sacred Indian literature composed primarily in Sanskrit, serving as a key bridge between classical Vedic philosophy and popular devotional traditions.
Traditionally attributed to the sage Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, these encyclopaedic texts encompass cosmology, divine mythologies, genealogies of gods, sages, and kings, alongside moral codes, pilgrimage guides, and philosophical discourses.
The Puranic literature is traditionally categorised into eighteen Mahapuranas (Major Puranas) and eighteen Upapuranas (Minor Puranas). Classically, an ideal Purana is defined by five essential thematic traits known as the Pancha Lakshana:
Beyond historical and legendary narratives, the Puranas served as vital vehicles for popularising sectarian traditions—primarily Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism.
They remain the foundational source for contemporary Hindu temple rituals, iconography, festivals, and cultural storytelling.