18 महापुराण
18 Mahapuranas — Chapter Navigator
Browse all 18 Mahapuranas chapter by chapter. Select a Purana below to view its complete chapter index with page-by-page navigation.
Brahma Purana
ब्रह्म पुराण
The first of the 18 Mahapuranas, Brahma Purana contains the sacred account of creation, kings, sages, and the glory of sacred tirthas along the Godavari river.
Padma Purana
पद्म पुराण
Named after the lotus (Padma), this Purana is the largest of all Mahapuranas and is dedicated to Vishnu. It discusses cosmology, the life of Rama, and the mysteries of creation.
Vishnu Purana
विष्णु पुराण
One of the most celebrated of the Puranas, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It contains the famous Vishnu Sahasranama and deep philosophical teachings on creation and liberation.
Shiva Purana
शिव पुराण
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this Purana contains the divine stories of Shiva, Parvati, their family, and the sacred Shivalingas. It presents Shiva as the Supreme Being.
Vayu Purana
वायु पुराण
Vayu Purana is one of the oldest Puranas, associated with Vayu, the wind deity. It covers cosmology, geography, genealogies of kings, and the philosophy of dharma.
Bhagavata Purana
भागवत पुराण
The most celebrated of Puranas, the Bhagavata Purana consists of 12 books (Skandhas) narrating the glory of Vishnu and contains the famous 10th Skandha describing Krishna's life.
Narada Purana
नारद पुराण
Named after the sage Narada, this Purana emphasizes devotion (Bhakti) to Vishnu and contains discussions of dharma, astronomy, astrology, grammar, and music.
Markandeya Purana
मार्कण्डेय पुराण
The Markandeya Purana contains the famous Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati), an essential text for Shakta tradition, along with the legendary tale of the immortal sage Markandeya.
Agni Purana
अग्नि पुराण
Agni Purana is an encyclopedic text covering a vast range of topics including cosmology, geography, ayurveda, astronomy, weaponry, duties of kings, and various rituals.
Brahma Vaivarta Purana
ब्रह्मवैवर्त पुराण
Brahma Vaivarta Purana glorifies Krishna and Radha as the supreme divine couple. It contains detailed descriptions of the creation by Prakriti and the worship of the divine feminine.
Linga Purana
लिंग पुराण
Linga Purana focuses on Shiva as the formless absolute through the symbolism of the Shivalinga. It contains Shiva Sahasranama and explains the origin and importance of the cosmic pillar of light.
Varaha Purana
वराह पुराण
Named after the boar avatar (Varaha) of Vishnu, this Purana recounts how Varaha rescued the Earth from the demon Hiranyaksha, and contains detailed descriptions of sacred tirthas and rituals.
Skanda Purana
स्कन्द पुराण
The largest of all Puranas, Skanda Purana is dedicated to Skanda (Kartikeya), son of Shiva. It contains detailed accounts of tirthas, rivers, and mountains across India.
Vamana Purana
वामन पुराण
Named after the dwarf avatar (Vamana) of Vishnu, this Purana narrates the story of how Vishnu took three steps to defeat the demon king Bali and restore cosmic order.
Kurma Purana
कूर्म पुराण
Named after the tortoise avatar (Kurma) of Vishnu who appeared during the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan). Contains discussions of Ishvara Gita and cosmic geography.
Matsya Purana
मत्स्य पुराण
Named after the fish avatar (Matsya) of Vishnu, this Purana narrates the story of the great flood and Manu. It covers cosomology, dynasties, temple architecture, and sculpture.
Garuda Purana
गरुड़ पुराण
Named after Garuda, the divine vehicle of Vishnu, this Purana is especially famous for its descriptions of the afterlife, the soul's journey after death, and the path to moksha.
Brahmanda Purana
ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण
The last of the 18 Mahapuranas, Brahmanda Purana derives its name from the cosmic egg (Brahmanda). It contains the famous Adhyatma Ramayana and Lalita Sahasranama.