24 Puranas All Puranas

The word Purana literally means "ancient, old". It is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of subjects, particularly myths, legends and other traditional lore. Vyasa, the narrator of the Mahabharata, is traditionally credited as the compiler of the Puranas. Composed largely in Sanskrit, many of these texts are named after major Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.

The Puranas are a body of classical Hindu literature that are highly regarded for their relevance to Hindu mythology, religion and culture. They are a major source of information on numerous subjects including mythology, history, geography, cosmology and philosophy. The Puranas are divided into three categories: the first twelve are associated with Sattva and Rajas, and the last six with Tamas.

There are 18 Maha (major) and 18 Upa (minor) Puranas, making a total of 36. It is not known who wrote them, but the original format of the Puranas was compiled by the sage Maharishi Veda Vyasa. The Puranas are an important repository of knowledge, tradition and ideals that have influenced Indian society and culture for millennia.