18 mahapuranas · ~400k verses · Smriti encyclopedia
अष्टादश महापुराण
The 18 Mahapuranas
The Mahapuranas are the 18 major books of smriti, the encyclopedia of Hindu cosmology, mythology, dharma, geography of pilgrimage, ritual, and devotion. Each is traditionally compiled by Vyasa. Together they hold approximately 400,000 verses across the five canonical lakshanas: sarga (creation), pratisarga (dissolution + recreation), vamsa (lineages), manvantara (epochs), and vamsanucharita (the deeds of dynasties).
The three-guna classification (Padma Purana)
Traditional Vaishnava tradition divides the 18 Mahapuranas by their predominant guna, 6 sattvic (Vaishnava), 6 rajasic (Brahma), 6 tamasic (Shaiva).
Sattvic (Vaishnava-leaning, 6 puranas)
Padma Purana
पद्म पुराण
Presiding: Vishnu
Creation as a lotus from Vishnu’s navel; vast pilgrimage geography of India
Comprehensive Ekadashi vrata-kathas
Vishnu Purana
विष्णु पुराण
Presiding: Vishnu
The classical "puranic" template: creation, dissolution, dynasties, conduct, liberation — all centered on Vishnu
Vishnu-mahima + dynastic chronology
Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवत पुराण
Presiding: Vishnu
The supreme glorification of Krishna as Bhagavan and the path of pure devotion (bhakti)
Krishna-charita; Bhakti-yoga par excellence
Narada Purana
नारद पुराण
Presiding: Vishnu
Encyclopedia of dharma, vratas, and devotion as narrated by sage Narada
Bhagavata Mahatmya (the introduction to the Bhagavata)
Brahma Vaivarta Purana
ब्रह्म वैवर्त पुराण
Presiding: Vishnu
Radha-Krishna theology — Krishna as supreme Brahman and Radha as His eternal shakti
Radha-Krishna theology + Ganesha-charita
Varaha Purana
वराह पुराण
Presiding: Vishnu
The Varaha (boar) avatar of Vishnu rescuing the Earth, and Mathura-mahatmya
Mathura Mahatmya — Vraj sacred geography
Rajasic (Brahma-leaning, 6 puranas)
Brahma Purana
ब्रह्म पुराण
Presiding: Brahma
Creation, the glory of Surya, and detailed mahatmyas of pilgrimage sites in Odisha (Konark, Puri)
Purushottama-kshetra (Puri) mahatmya
Markandeya Purana
मार्कण्डेय पुराण
Presiding: Devi
Contains the Devi Mahatmya — the foundational text of Shakta tradition
Durga Saptashati (700 verses on the Goddess)
Bhavishya Purana
भविष्य पुराण
Presiding: Mixed
Prophecies of future events, vratas through the calendar year, and worship of Surya
Annual vrata calendar + Surya worship
Vamana Purana
वामन पुराण
Presiding: Vishnu
The Vamana (dwarf) avatar, the Bali story, and the geography of Kurukshetra
Vamana-avatar narrative + Onam origins
Garuda Purana
गरुड पुराण
Presiding: Vishnu
What happens after death — the soul’s journey, karma, the afterworlds, and shraddha rites
Preta-khanda — read during 13-day post-death rites
Brahmanda Purana
ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण
Presiding: Brahma
The "Cosmic Egg" — origin and structure of the universe, plus the Adhyatma Ramayana embedded as supplement
Adhyatma Ramayana + Lalita Sahasranama
Tamasic (Shaiva-leaning, 6 puranas)
Shiva Purana
शिव पुराण
Presiding: Shiva
The glory of Shiva, the 12 jyotirlingas, the path of bhakti to Shiva, and the Shaiva cosmology
12 Jyotirlinga mahatmyas
Agni Purana
अग्नि पुराण
Presiding: Mixed
Encyclopedia spanning ritual, iconography, mantra, ayurveda, statecraft, and the arts
Iconographic + Vastu encyclopedia
Linga Purana
लिङ्ग पुराण
Presiding: Shiva
The symbolism of the Shiva-linga, its installation, worship, and metaphysical significance
Linga as cosmic symbol; lingodbhava narrative
Skanda Purana
स्कन्द पुराण
Presiding: Shiva
The largest Purana — encyclopedia of Shaiva mahatmyas, tirthas, vratas across all of Bharat
Kashi Khanda + tirtha encyclopedia
Kurma Purana
कूर्म पुराण
Presiding: Mixed
The Kurma (tortoise) avatar narrating yoga, Ishvara-gita, and Vyasa-gita
Ishvara-gita (Shiva’s teaching on yoga)
Matsya Purana
मत्स्य पुराण
Presiding: Mixed
The Matsya (fish) avatar saving Manu from the flood; oldest of the Mahapuranas
Pralaya narrative + Vastu shastra