The Markandeya Mahapuranam

by Eng. Manmatha Nath Dutt and Introd. + Ed. Pushpendra Kumar

-The different works known by the name of Puranas are evidently derived from the mythoheroic stage of Hindu belief. The Puranas are commonly stated to be eighteen in number. It is said there are also eighteen Upa or Minor Puranas but the names of all these are not found. The principal eighteen Puranas are Brahma, Padma, Visnu, Saiva, Bhagavata, Naradiya, Markandeya, Agni, Bhavisya, Brahma Vaivarta, Linga, Varaha, Skanda, Vamana, Kurma, Matsya, Garuda and Brahmanda.All these Puranas are classed into therr groups according to the qualities which prevail in them. The Matsya Purana remarks that those in which glory of Hari or Visnu prevails are Satvika those in which the legends of Agni of Siva predominate are Tamasa and those which dwell most on the stories of Brahma are Rajasa.