The Brahma-Vaivarla Purana: Contents

1. О dear child, I shall recount to you the tenth Purana named Brahmavaivarta.1 It points out the path of the Vedas.

I. Ibis Purana is Brahma-Valvarta as the entire Brahman was manifested by Kr?na:

vivrtam Brahma kdrtsnyena Кгshщпа yatra Saunaka / Brahma-Vaivartakaih term pravadanti ритй-vidah //

It is obviously a Vaifpava Purina — mainly devoted to the glorification of Radha and as such is very popular with Gau^iya Vai^avas. According to Wilson this work does not deserve to be called a Purina (VifQupurdQa, Intro. LXV — LXVII)

2. In it the Lord himself assumed the form of Savarna and narrated the subject matter of the Purana to Narada,1 the divine sage. He mentioned the entire miraculous non-mundane subject matter to him.

3. The essence of virtue (dharma), wealth, love and liberation from bondage of samsara is the pleasure in and love for Hari and Нага. In order to establish their non-difference is meant the excellent Brahrnavaivarta (transformation of Brahman).

4. The events of Rathantara Kalpa narrated in details by me in the Purana of hundred crores of verses were condensed and narrated by the knower of the Vedas (i.e. Vyasa).

5. In the Purana called Brahrnavaivarta he condensed it into four parts. This Purana is reputed to contain eighteen thousand verses.2

6. It consists of parts (sections) called Brahma, Prakrti, Ganesa and Krishna. There the Purana starts with the dialogue between Suta and Sages.

7. The first chapter (prakarana) pertains to the creation; then there is a great verbal disputation between Narada and Vedhas (god Brahma) in which both of them met with a great defeat.

8-10a. Then the attainment of Shiva’s world. The acquisition of perfect knowledge through the realisation of S;va’s Atman through Shiva’s exposition. Thereafter, О Marlci, Narada goes to the hermitage of Savarni1 which was resorted to by Siddhas for the purpose of perfect knowledge. That is an exceedingly meritorious hermitage causing wonderment in the three worlds. This is well known as Brahma Khanka.# It is destructive of sins.

1. Although the NP. states that this Purana is in the form of a dialogue between Lord Savarni and Narada, in the printed edition (GM) Sauti and shaunaka are the interlocutors in the 1st (Brahma) Khanda while Narayana (and not Savarni) and Narada are the interlocutors in the rest of the khan das.

2. This statement of NP regarding the extent of the Brahma Vaivarta (18000 verses) is supported by the Vdyu, MT, P. AP.t ВH.P.t and Brahma Vaivarta itself.

But in the Anandasrama edt. there arc 20,694 verses (PJ VII 2. p. 349) and GM edt. adds an additional (spurious) к/мяфх — Kdtirahasya.

10b-11. Then the dialogue between Savarni and Narada is recounted. It contains the greatness of Krishna and a number of various different anecdotes, the greatness of the Kalas (digits) that are parts of Prakfti is described.

12. The mode of worship in the precise manner has been described in detail. This is the well known Prakrti Khantfa that brings about prosperity.

13. The word of enquiry about the nativity of Ganesa: Parvati’s great and meritorious Vrata (holy vow); the birth of Vighnesa along with Karttikeya.

14-15a. The wonderful story of Karttavirya andjamada- gnya (Parasurama). A great dispute arises between Ganesa and Jamadagnya (Parasurama). This is the Vighnesa Khanka that dispels all obstacles.

15b-16. The enquiry regarding the birth of SrlKrishna: The narration of his birth in wonderful manner, his departure to Gokula (the cowherds' colony), the miracles of killing Putana, etc.; his sports during infancy and boyhood of diverse kinds, are described.

1 7. The Rasa sport in the autumn alongwith the cowherd- esses is mentioned; his secret dalliance with Radha is described in detail.

18. Thereafter, Hari goes to Mathura accompained by Akrura. After the killing of Kaihsa and others Krishna is consecrated as a twice-born (i.e. investiture with the sacred thread.)

1. The Printed text of Вт. Vaivarta Brahma Khapqla Ch. 28 does not mention Savarni at all. God Sankara sends Narada to Narayana in the Badarivana and the rest of the Purana is a dialogue between Narada and Narayana (and not Savarni though Savarni in the NP. is regarded as identical with Vi?pu).

A detailed comparison of the contents of the printed Br. Vaivarta Purana and those given in the NP shows that the author of the NP had a different version of this Purarpa before him.

19. The wonderful learning of all lores from Sandlpani ofKasi, the killing of Yavana, thereafter the departure of Hari to Dvaraka.

20. The killing of Naraka etc, was wonderfully carried out by Krishna. О Brahmana, this is the Krishna Kharuja that cuts at the root of worldly existence of men.

21. This is read, heard, meditated upon, worshipped and saluted. Thus is the Supramundane Brahmavaivarta Purana.

22. This is narrated at the outset by Vyasa. One who reads it and listens to it is liberated from the terrible ocean of worldly existence through the acquisition of perfect knowledge and the suppression of ignorance.

23. He who writes this out and makes a gift of it on the full moon day in the month of Magha alongwith a cow attains Brahmaloka. He is liberated from the bondage of ignorance.

24. He too, who reads or listens to this index (contents of this Purana) attains the desired benefit, thanks to Krishna’s grace.

1. О son, listen, I shall recount to you the Purana called Linga.1 It bestows worldly pleasures and salvation on those who read and listen to it.

2. It was while stationed in the huge fiery column that Нага narrated (the subject matter in the Purana) named Linga to me in order that virtue etc, may be realised. The story refers to the incidents of the Agni Kalpa.1

1. The LP is published by the Vehkateivara Press, G.M. Calcutta, and MLBD, Delhi. Its translation is published in the AITM, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi. I have used the GM. edition for reference here.

3. The same thing was described by the holy Lord Vyasa in two parts. The Linga Purana is mentioned to be miraculous with many narratives.

4. It comprises of eleven thousand verses.2 It indicates the greatness of Нага. It is greater than all the other Puranas. It is the essence of the three worlds.

5. There is the enquiry at the start of the Purana. The former creation is succinctly described. Then the Yoga system is narrated; thereafter, the Kalpa is recounted.

6. The origin of the Linga; then Amba is glorified; then the holy dialogue between Sanatkumara and Silada’s son i.e. Nandin.

7. Thereafter, the story of Dadhlca, the review of the Yugadharma (virtue peculiar to the different Yugas), then the narrative of the Bhuvana Kosa (The globe of the world), then the Solar and the Lunar races are described.

8. Then the creation is described in detail; then the story of the Tripuras; the installation of the Linga and then the liberation of the Pasu (individual soul) from Pasa (bondage i.e. from samsara)

9. The holy rites of Shiva, the survey of good conduct Expiatory rites; Aristas (evil portents, harassments etc.); then the description of Kasi and Shri Saila.

10. The narration of Andhaka; then the story of Varaha (The Divine Boar), the story of Nrsimha and then the slaying of Jalandhara.

1. The NP states that the Linga Purana (LP) refers to incidents in the Agni Kalpa, but LP I 2.1 states that it describes the incidents in the liana- Kalpa.

Ifdna-Kalpa-vfttdntam adhikrtya mahdtmandj BrahmavA kalpitam piirvam Purdttam Laingam uttamamU It means that the NP used a different and older version of the LP than the extant published editions.

2. This statement of the NP regarding the extent of the LP (viz. 11,000 verses) has been endorsed by the Vayu, Mt.PBh.P.t A.P. etc. The LP also states that it consists of 11000 verses; Asyaikddaia- sahasram granthamdnam iha dvijdhf But actually the VeAkata Edt. of the LP contains 9185 verses (PJ VII — 2. p. 349)

11. The thousand epithets of Shiva, the destruction of Daksa’s sacrifice. Каша is burnt down, then the story of the marriage of Girija.

12. Then the story of Vinayaka, that of the kings and that of Shiva; then the story of Upamanyu. This is the summary of the first section.1

13. The narration of the greatness of Vishnu, then the story of Ambarlsa, О sage, again there is the dialogue between Sanatkumara and Nandlsa.

14. The greatness of Shiva, the mode of ablution and sacrificial system (yaga) etc. the injunction regarding the worship of the sun-god. Then the worship of Shiva that confers liberation from samsara.

15. Many types of charitable gifts are mentioned; then the chapter onSraddha, the Pratistha Tantra (the ritualistic text of installation), then the glorification of Aghora.

16. The great Vidya of Vajresvari, then the glory of Gayatri, the greatness of Tryambaka, (the three-eyed Lord) as well as that of listening to the Purana.

17. Thus the latter half of thcLinga Purana as composed by Vyasa has been recounted by me and the greatness of Rudra is indicated.2

18-19a. This Purana must be written and gifted to a Brahmana with devotion on the full moonday in the month of Phalguna alongwith gingelly seeds and a cow. He who does so, attains Sayujya with Shiva. He does not have to suffer from old age or death.

19b-20a. The man who reads or listens to the Linga Purana that dispels sins, enjoys pleasures in this world and at the end attains to Shiva’s city.

1. Though the NP refers to a few topics in the Piirva Bhaga, most of them are found in the extant editions.

2. A comparison of topics given in the NP and those found in the printed (GM) edition shows that the published LP has many topics common with the LP that was before the author of the NP.

20b-21. The man who reads the index and the man who listens to this — both of them are the devotees of Shiva. They enjoy both the worlds through the Grace of the Lord o#f Girija. There is no doubt about this.

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