Padma Purana
The Srushti Khanda is really the first of the set. The Purana
commences with treatment of primary creation out of the cosmic egg. It contains
the story of Brahma and Savitri. This story shows that the motive of the Brahma
worshippers was to revive Brahmanism which was going decadent. Many of the
worshippers of Brahma had accepted Saivism, and worship of the god was growing
obsolete. This section is also called Puskara khanda as Brahma performed the
sacrifice at Puskara in Rajasthan. Some chapters of this Khanda are Vaisnava,
Ramaite and Saiva in character. Several chapters betray the influence of
Tantrism.
Srushti Khanda has following stories – aim of Padma Purana
narrated by Shaunaka to Suta, description of universe through the dialogue
between Pulastya and Bhishma, Manvantaras, description of the great flood
(Pralaya), story of Varaha, origin of four Varnas, dialogue between Vishnu and
Brahma, story of Daksha’s sacrifice, origin of Gods-demons-gandharvas-Uragas-
Bhumi Khanda treats geography in 125 chapters. It is a book
entirely of legends. These legends have been introduced in order to prove the
sanctity of various holy places and show how Prahalad became a devotee of
Vishnu and why a teacher, a father, or a chaste and devoted wife is called
Tirtha. In connection with these legends and glorifications the duties of
Ashramas, gifts, duties of women, vrata and holy places have been treated. The
river Narmada which is also called Reva has been glorified more than once and
declared to have a sanctifying power much greater than that of the Ganga,
Sindhu etc.
It also has how Shivasharma Brahmin obtained position in heaven,
stories of gods, story of Pruthu, Indra and Indrapada, story of Suvrata, origin
of Maratas, Jain religion, story of Sukara, story of Yayati and Nahusha,
Shivadharma, description of heaven, Stotra of Vasudeva, etc.
The Swarga Khanda is purely Vaisnava, begins with a short
account of the creation of the universe. It then passes on to the geography of
the Earth, deals with the glories of various holy places and rivers with few
chapters on Vishnu bhakti, and the duties of the members of the different
castes in different ages of their life.
Additionally story of Dushyant, description of Apsaras,
Suryaloka, story of Varuna, birth of Ravana and Kubera, description of
Vaikuntha, story of Sagara, Gangavatarana, stories of Divodasa, Harishchandra,
Mandhata, rules relating to food, sacrifice of Daksha, etc are also given in
Swarga Khanda.
The Brahma Khanda is related by Suta and Saunaka. It is a short
one consisting of 26 chapters only. It is concerned with the description of
Vaisnava feast and festivals. It narrates the merits of besmearing a Visnu
temple with cowdung and burning of a lamp there are at night’ the observances
during the month of Karttika, the Jayanti vrata etc. The merits of the
observance of these festivals are illustrated with various stories. The
churning of the ocean has been narrated in connection with the birthday
festival of Radha.
The Patala Khanda begins with Sesa and Vatsyayana as
interlocutors, their interlocution being reported by Suta to sages. Chapter 1 –
68 is avowedly Rama. It deifies Rama and conceives him as Vishnu incarnate. Sita
is identified with Laxmi. These chapters describe Rama’s return from Lanka and
celebration of the horse sacrifice. Chapters 100 to the end give an account of
Rama’s life after the horse sacrifice.
Kamakshi, holy place Nilagiri, Gandaki, Purushottama stotra,
story of Satyawana, story of Valmiki, Krishna, importance of Vrundavana,
worship of Hari, Mnatra of Krishna, rules of linga worship, worship of Shiva,
number of mahapuranas and upapuranas, etc are also the subject matter of Patala
Khanda.
Uttar Khanda of Padma Purana
Description of Badarikashrama, story of Jalandhara, holy places
such as Shreeshaila, Haridwar, Gaya, Ganga, Tulasi, Prayaga, importance of
donation of food, Ekadashi vrata, Chaturmasa vrata, Bhagavat saptah, geeta
mahatmya etc are covered in the Uttara khanda of Padma Purana.
Among the Khandas of Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda is the biggest
in size. It has more number of verses than any other Khanda. Some scholars
think that entire Uttar Khanda is may be the later addition. Because Padma Purana
is Vaishnava Purana, overall it has the impact of Vaishnavism but Uttar Khanda
has the impact of Shaivism. Another reason is many stories from Uttar Khanda
give the feel that they are the extension of some previous stories. Overall it
is the guess of scholars that there are many later additions to the entire
Padma Purana.
Importance of Padma Purana
It is said that reciting Padma Purana destroys all sins. It is
filled with best stotras of various deities. Padma Purana is one of the
important Vaishnava Puranas. Some verses are the same in Padma Purana and
Matsya Purana. According to a group of scholars some stories from Padma Purana
are the oldest. Dr. Luders claims that the story of Rushyashringa is older than
that of Mahabharata. Even description of holy places in Padma Purana is older
than that of from Vanaparva of Mahabharata. Story of Rama from Patalakhanda and
Raghuvamsha is very similar. Some other stories from Padma Purana are narrated
by Kalidas in his literature with his poetic imagination.
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