Top 108 Puranas
Top 108 Puranas with Categorization and One-Line Summaries
Meta Description: Explore the complete list of 108 Puranas — including 18 Mahapuranas and 90+ Upapuranas — with easy-to-read one-line summaries and divine categorizations. A treasure trove of Sanatana Dharma.
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🪷 Introduction
The Puranas are the most vibrant and storytelling-centric scriptures of Sanatana Dharma. Though often referenced as 18 Mahapuranas, the entire Purana corpus contains 108 or more texts when we include Upapuranas (secondary), Sthala Puranas (regional), and sect-specific scriptures.
These texts preserve not only stories of gods and sages but also history, rituals, Ayurveda, cosmology, yoga, temple traditions, and profound spiritual truths.
In this post, you’ll find:
✅ Categorization into Mahapuranas, Upapuranas, and Others
✅ Simple one-line summaries for each text
✅ An SEO-rich, clean format for reference, research, and devotion
📚 I. The 18 Mahapuranas (महापुराणाः)
These are the foundational Puranas recognized by all major schools of Sanatana Dharma. They are often grouped by the deity they predominantly glorify.
| # | Name | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brahma Purana | Describes creation, the earth’s geography, and temple architecture. |
| 2 | Padma Purana | Expounds on cosmology, Bhakti, sacred places, and Rama-Krishna devotion. |
| 3 | Vishnu Purana | Focuses on Lord Vishnu, creation, Yugas, and the Dharma of householders. |
| 4 | Shiva Purana | Dedicated to Lord Shiva, his avatars, family, and cosmic functions. |
| 5 | Bhagavata Purana | Central to Krishna Bhakti, Vishnu’s avatars, and philosophical Vedanta. |
| 6 | Narada Purana | Narrated by Sage Narada, discusses Karma, festivals, and devotion. |
| 7 | Markandeya Purana | Contains the Devi Mahatmya, a key Shakta text on Goddess Durga. |
| 8 | Agni Purana | Details rituals, martial arts, astrology, iconography, and more. |
| 9 | Bhavishya Purana | Predictive Purana covering future dynasties, religions, and social order. |
| 10 | Brahmavaivarta Purana | Highly devotional, glorifies Radha-Krishna, Ganesha, and Devi. |
| 11 | Linga Purana | Focuses on the metaphysical aspects of Shiva through the Linga. |
| 12 | Varaha Purana | Highlights Vishnu’s Varaha Avatar and temple glories. |
| 13 | Skanda Purana | The longest Purana, glorifies Kartikeya and many sacred places. |
| 14 | Vamana Purana | Depicts Vishnu’s Vamana avatar and related legends. |
| 15 | Kurma Purana | Told by Vishnu in his Kurma avatar; includes yoga and metaphysics. |
| 16 | Matsya Purana | Narrates the Matsya (fish) avatar and temple rites. |
| 17 | Garuda Purana | Contains vivid descriptions of death, afterlife, and soul’s journey. |
| 18 | Brahmanda Purana | Talks of the cosmic egg (Brahmanda) and includes the Lalita Sahasranama. |
📘 II. The 18 Upapuranas (उपपुराणाः)
Upapuranas are secondary in status but rich in regional, sectarian, or ritual significance. The list of 18 varies across traditions; here’s a common version:
| # | Name | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanatkumara Purana | Centered around Sanatkumara and higher yogic teachings. |
| 2 | Narasimha Purana | Narrates the tale of Narasimha Avatar and sacred rituals. |
| 3 | Brihannaradiya Purana | Deals with devotion and instructions from Narada. |
| 4 | Sivarahasya Purana | Esoteric teachings and legends of Shiva. |
| 5 | Durvasa Purana | Mystical narratives attributed to Sage Durvasa. |
| 6 | Kapila Purana | Philosophical text based on teachings of Sage Kapila. |
| 7 | Vishnudharma Purana | Dharma-shastra content with a Vaishnava focus. |
| 8 | Saurapurana | Focused on Surya (Sun god) worship and solar mythology. |
| 9 | Parashara Purana | Discusses Dharma, Karma, and creation from Parashara’s view. |
| 10 | Aditya Purana | Devoted to Aditya (Sun God) with rituals and hymns. |
| 11 | Bhargava Purana | Talks about Sage Bhrigu and lineage-based dharma. |
| 12 | Vasishtha Purana | Narratives from Sage Vasishtha on family life and renunciation. |
| 13 | Devi Purana | Strong Shakta orientation with praise of various Goddess forms. |
| 14 | Ganesa Purana | Complete mythology and stories of Ganesha. |
| 15 | Hamsa Purana | Metaphysical discussions on the Hamsa (divine swan) symbol. |
| 16 | Kalika Purana | Tantric Shakta text glorifying Kali and Kamakhya. |
| 17 | Maheshvara Purana | A Shaiva treatise with ritual and symbolic interpretation. |
| 18 | Saura Purana | Additional Surya-related lore and rituals. |
🗺️ III. Regional and Other Puranas (Sthala & Minor)
Beyond the Mahapuranas and Upapuranas, numerous local and sectarian Puranas exist — often focused on temples, pilgrimage sites, or specific deities. These include:
| Name | Focus |
|---|---|
| Kashi Khanda | Sthala Purana of Varanasi (from Skanda Purana) |
| Gokarna Mahatmya | Sacred geography and tales of Gokarna |
| Tirupati Purana | Lore of Venkateshwara at Tirumala |
| Ahobilam Purana | Stories of Narasimha at Ahobilam |
| Kanchipuram Mahatmya | Temple traditions of Kanchi |
| Rameshwaram Purana | Pilgrimage and stories of Rameshwaram |
| Sabarimala Purana | Ayyappa Swamy’s story and pilgrimage significance |
| Jagannatha Purana | Glorifies Jagannatha of Puri and related rituals |
| Badrinath Mahatmya | Narrates the greatness of Badrinath and Vishnu |
| Lalita Mahatmya | Detailed praise of Goddess Lalita Tripurasundari |
Many of these texts are appendices or segments within major Puranas like the Skanda, Padma, or Brahmanda Purana, yet they stand independently in tradition and practice.
📌 Summary Table: Classification of the 108 Puranas
| Type | Count | Orientation |
|---|---|---|
| Mahapuranas | 18 | Pan-Hindu (Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta) |
| Upapuranas | 18 | Regional, ritualistic, sectarian |
| Sthala/Minor | 70+ | Temple-focused, geography-based |
📖 Note: The number 108 is symbolic in Sanatana Dharma, representing completeness and sacredness (like 108 beads in a japa mala).
🌟 Conclusion: A Cosmic Library for All
Whether you’re seeking Bhakti, Jnana, ritual knowledge, or yogic secrets, the Puranas are timeless guides. With narratives that uplift, philosophies that deepen, and rituals that sanctify, they form the heart of Sanatana Dharma’s cultural memory.
Transliteration: Puraṇānām idam śāstraṁ bahu saṅgraha-kāraṇam
Translation: The Purana scriptures are a sacred collection of vast knowledge for the benefit of all.