Shri Devi Bhagwat Maha Purana

It is said that the Puranas are not Vedic. They are just fanciful narrations however a part of it contains sublime truth. Purva-Paksha (Objection): All the Puranas are dated between 8th to 12th century AD. They are all fanciful narrations by modern scholars in the name of Badarayanah (Krishna DvipayanaVyasa). They contain thousands of contradictions and silly nonsense as well as some profound philosophy.

The Puranas are all written after writing was developed in India which is about 200 BCE the earliest writing we have are the edicts of Ashoka. Prior to that there is no writing so no single author could have written them. Vyas simply means the compiler” and there is quite evidently 100’s of different authors that contributed to the vast literature of the Puranas. Some Puranic material dates back to the Vedas and was recited during long yaj?as. The only Purana that Ramanujacharya accepted was the Vishnu Purana. No Vedanta acharya accepts statements of the Puranas as independently authoritative.

Sidhanta(Conclusion): 1. The Puranas are Vedic because it is stated so in the Shrutis. 2. The Puranas are Vedic because it is stated so in the Puranas. 3. The Puranas are Vedic because it is stated so in the Itihasas. 4. The Puranas are Vedic because they are chanted in Yajnas. 5. There is no evidence (other than tarka (logic)) supporting that only some of the Puranic material is Vedic the rest is not. However, the number of Puranas along with names are mentioned in Smriti. 6. There is no reason to accept just Vishnu Purana and deny the others.7. Just like the vedas were memorised the Puranas were also memorised. The evidence is from Smrti. Whereas there is no credible evidence to prove otherwise, other than mundane logic.

8. Vyas simply means a compiler. That is true. However, the current Vyas is Narayana himself. This is supported by Vishnu Purana. Opinions contrary to this is not supported by any Sastra. 9. a. The puranas contain some crazy and silly explanations but so do the Vedas. One should not give preference to mundane logic if it contradicts the Sastra. This is the opinion of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyas. b. The puranas contain many contradictions. These are meant for different kinds of people to attain spiritual realisation.

Sangati (Agreement with scriptures): That the Puranas are Vedic is approved by the Shruti by the following quotations: Madhyandina-sruti, Brhadaranyaka Upanisad 2.4.10 "asya mahato bhutasya nihsvasitam etad yad rg-vedo yajur-vedah sama vedo’tharvangirasa itihasah puranam ityadina"“O Maitreya, the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas as well as the Itihasas and the Puranas all manifest from the breathing of the Lord.” (Atharva Veda: Gopatha Brahmana, purva 2.10).

"evam ime sarva veda nirmitah sa-kalpah sa-rahasyah sa-brahmanah sopanisatkah setihasah sanvakhyatah sa-puranan" “In this way, all the Vedas were manifested along with the Kalpas, Rahasyas, Brahmanas, Upanisads, Itihasas, Anvakhyatas and the Puranas.” (Atharva Veda 15.6.10–12) "sa brhatim disam anu vyacalat tam itihasas ca puranam ca gathas ca itihasasya ca sa vai puranasya ca gathanam ca narasamsinam ca priyam dhama bhavati ya evam veda" “He approached the brhati meter, and thus the Itihasas, Puranas, Gathas andNarasamsisbecame favorable to him. One who knows this verily becomes the beloved abode of the Itihasas, Puranas, Gathas and Narasamsis.”

Some people who are hellbent on proving that Puranas are not Vedic may have the following objection: Some Vedic passages fit the functional definition of Itihasa narrations, such as the portion of the Rg Veda Samhita describing a conversation between the demigods and Lord Brahma (samyum prajapatim deva abruvan yo brahmanayavaguret tam satenayayatet) and the portion of the Nrsimha tapani Upanisad describing (avacanenaiva procava).

Other passages describe the creation of the universe in Puranic fashion, as in the Taittiriya Upanisad's descriptions yato va imani bhutani jayante ("From that Surpeme everything in existence was generated"; Taittiriya Up. 3.1) and etasmad atmana akasah bhutah ("From that Supreme Soul, the sky came into being"; Taittiriya Up. 2.1). However, this is not true as indicated by the Chandogya Upanishad: Kauthumiya Chandogya Upanisad 7.1.4"nama va rg-vedo yajur-vedah sama-veda atharvanas caturtha itihasa-puranah pancamo vedanam vedah" “Indeed, Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva are the names of the four Vedas.The Itihasas and Puranas are the fifth Veda.”

There are 3 Purā?as known as Devī Purā?a: 1. Devī Bhāgvata Mahāpurā?a. 2. ?ākta Mahābhāgvata Upapurā?a and 3. Devī (Upa)Purā?a.These 3 Purā?as are three different ?ākta texts. Let us discuss each one by one. 1. Devī Bhāgvata Mahāpurā?a.Fifth of the Mahāpurā?as is Devī Bhāgvatam. In ?iva Purā?a, it is said that~?????????? ??????????????? ???? ??????? | ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????????? | |The Purā?a that sings the glories of Bhagvatī Durgā is renowned as Bhāgvatam. It also known by the name of Devī Purā?a.Some people say that 'Bhāgvata' term can't be applied to a feminine entity such as Durgā, but as we can see in the abode verse, ?iva Purā?a completely associated the former with the latter. Padma Purā?a also described the fifth of the Mahāpurā?as as "??????? ???????" which means "Durgā's Bhāgvatam".The text is dedicated to Caturtha Mahāvidyā Bhuvane?varī and describes her consort, Līlās, abode and worship extensively. It also contains the Devī Gītā.

2. ?ākta Mahābhāgvata Upapurā?a. There is another Purā?a called Mahābhāgvat which is also called Devī Purā?a. It is one of the 18 Upapurā?as. The Purā?a consists of the divine tales of Mahākālī. It also has an account of Dak?akanyā Satī assuming the forms of Da?amahāvidyās. The description of Mahākālī Loka can also be found in this Purā?a.It is believed that Mahābhāgvatam is an extension of our Devī Bhāgvata Purā?a only.

3. Devī (Upa)Purā?a: There is another Upapurā?a called Devī Purā?a which describes Devī and her battle with different demons. The text is known for its unique narrative of Kātyāyanī and Durgā Pūjā Paddhatī. In this Purā?a, Kātyāyanī has a 22 armed form and she slays Ghorarūpī Mahi?āsura i.e here, a Vi??u devotee called Ghorāsura has the ability to change into a buffalo, hence he is called Mahi?āsura. Navapatt?kā worship during Durgā Pūjā is inspired from here only. Namo Devye Mahadevye Shivaye Satatam Namah