The Naradiya Purana (Sanskrit:, Nradya Purana) or Narada Purana (Sanskrit: ) are two Sanskrit writings, one of which is a major Hindu Purana (Upapurana) and the other a minor Purana (Upapurana). Some academics refer to the minor Purana as Brihannaradiya Purana to avoid misunderstanding.
Nearly all of the main Purana manuscripts recognise the existence of a major Purana entitled Narada or Naradiya, implying that it was a significant work in Hindu history. The Narada text, however, occurs in both the main and minor Purana lists, unlike other Puranas that only appear in one. Indologists in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were much perplexed by this. The uncertainty was exacerbated by the fact that the substance of the two manuscripts they discovered had a comparable breadth and emphasis, with the exception that the Brihannaradiya Purana text, with around 3,500 verses, was somewhat larger than the other, which had approximately 3,000 verses.
Each named piece is made up of material that has accumulated through
time as a result of various accretions. As a result, there is no fixed date for
the writing of any Purana.
Narada (Sanskrit:, IAST: Nrada), also known as Narad Muni, is a Hindu
god-sage who is known for being a travelling musician and storyteller who
brings news and illuminating insight. He is one of Brahma's creator's
mind-created children.
Structure of Narada Purana
The first half of Purvabhaga
has 125 chapters, while the second section, Uttarabhaga, has 82 chapters. The
former is subdivided into four portions, Pada, Pada, Pada, Pada, Pada, Pada,
Pada, Pada, Uttara bhaga, on the other hand, is a continuous storey with no
breaks.
Cover of the Naradiya Purana from the
nineteenth century.
The Brihannaradiya Purana (also known as
Brihannarada Purana) focuses on Vishnu's bhakti. It discusses Vaishnavism's
festivals and ritual rituals. Many parts of the work are dedicated to the river
Ganges, pilgrimages, and tourist destinations like as Prayag (where the Yamuna
and Ganges meet) and Banaras (the holy city of Hindus). Chapters on Varna and
Ashrama ethics and responsibilities, vrata, and summaries on Sanskara are also
included in the book (rite of passage).
In the first 41 chapters of Purvabhaga,
the Narada Purana (also Naradiya Purana) follows the style of the
Brihannaradiya Purana, while the rest of the first and second parts are
encyclopaedic, covering a wide range of themes. The encyclopaedic sections cover
topics like the six Vedangas, Moksha, Dharma, Adhyatma-jnana (monastic life),
Pashupata philosophy, a secular guide with Ganesha worship methods, various
Vishnu avatars (Mahavisnu, Nrisimha, Hayagriva, Rama, Krishna), Lakshmana,
Hanuman, goddesses like Devi and Mahalakshmi. Radha is praised in the scripture
as the embodiment of all Hindu goddesses' souls and love.
The secular description and praise verses
in the book are not restricted to Hinduism's many traditions, but also to other
religions. Chapter 1.2, for example, extols Buddha. This contrasts with the
Kurma Purana, which is critical of Buddhism but does not name Buddha, but is
comparable to the praise of Buddha found in other important Puranas such as
Chapter 49 of the Agni Purana, Chapter 2.5.16 of the Shiva Purana, Chapter 54
of the Matsya Purana, and numerous lesser Puranas.
Purvabhaga's chapters 92 through 109 are remarkable for summing
the 18 main Puranas, each with its own chapter. Because the summary in these 18
chapters differs considerably from the surviving manuscripts of the main
Puranas, this has been an essential benchmark in comparative studies and as
proof that the Puranas were altered after the writing of Narada Purana. Flora
and fauna, cuisine, music, dancing, attire, jewellery, weaponry, and military
philosophies are among the other themes mentioned in Uttarabhaga's poems.
Rukmangadacarita, a
mythology about a monarch named Rukmangada whose faith in Vishnu is continually
challenged by a temptress Mohini (a female incarnation of Vishnu), has become
the subject of plays and dance arts in Indian culture, is also found in the
Narada Purana. Following Rukmangadacarita, the work is mostly a collection of
geographic Mahatmyas, or pilgrimage guides, for pilgrimages along the Ganges
River, beginning in Haridwar and continuing via Banaras (Kashi) to Bengal, as
well as adjacent locations such as Gaya in Bihar and Nepal.
Diamond Books (1 June 2003)
88 pages
Gita press 2014
768
In contrast, Rajendra Hazra claims that the primary verses of the texts
were likely written across several centuries, as follows: He dates the
Brihannaradiya Purana, which focuses on Vishnu devotion, to the 9th century.
Gita press2014
Diamond Books (1 June 2003)
2015
2003