Saura Purana

The Saura Purana (Sanskrit: सौर पुराण, Saura Purāņa) is one of the Shaiva Upapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts. The printed editions of this text have 69 chapters (adhyāyas). The extant Saura Purana describes itself as a supplement (khila) to the Brahma Purana which consisting of two Samhitas with the first being dictated by Sanatkumara and the second by Surya to Vaivasvata Manu.[1][2] It is presumed that an earlier version of this text different from the extant one existed but has since been lost.[1][3]

Content

The extant Saura Purana, though proclaimed by Surya, eulogises Shiva and his shakti Parvati. This text praises Varanasi and describes its various sacred places and lingas.[4] It consists of a version of the narrative of Urvashi and Pururavas in chapter 31.[1] It also deals with Devi worship, merits of dānas (donations), vratas (vows) and brief descriptions of the Puranas. Chapters 38-40 contain attacks on Madhvacharya, an early medieval philosopher and his works in the form of a prophecy. [4]

Printed editions

The early printed editions of this text published by the Anandashrama (Anandashrama Sanskrit Series 18), Pune in 1889 and the Vangavasi Press, Calcutta in 1908 (along with a Bengali translation) are practically identical.[4]

References

1. Winternitz (1981), p. 512.
2. Mohanty (2004), p. 11.
3. Rocher (1986), p. 221.
4. Rocher (1986), pp. 220–221.

Bibliography

• Mohanty, Snigdha (2004). The Saurapurana: A Critical Study. University (Thesis). Utkal University. hdl:10603/129627 – via Shodhganga.
• Rocher, Ludo (1986). The Purāṇas. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz. ISBN 3-447-02522-0.
• Winternitz, Maurice (1981). A History of Indian Literature. Vol. 1. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 81-208-0264-0.

External links

• Original text in Sanskrit at the Wayback Machine (archived 2014-11-06)