In Upanishads, Puranas have been called the fifth Veda ( Panchama Veda). This is inferred from occurrences of the term Purana in many ancient texts such as the Brahmanas and the Upanishads where it is used in the sense of cosmogonic enquiries and ancient tales. True to this meaning, Puranas were in existence since very early times and predate Mahabharata. The word Purana means ‘old’ implying an ancient legend or tale. This is evidenced from the fact that mere study and recitation of Puranas are considered as acts of piety by large sections of Hindu community even today. The influence of Puranas on the religious life of Hindus is beyond question, is both extensive and intensive. Importance of Puranas to Indian culture is not so much because of their literary merit as because, through them, we can trace the evolution of Indian thought in all aspects of life: political, social and religious. While the epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata come under the category of Itihasa in Sanskrit literature, Puranas form a separate class. The Vedas, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Puranas may be said to constitute India’s cultural history, particularly of the Hindus.
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