A group of writings about the adventures and activities of Hinduism's gods and goddesses. Most were composed during the classical period of Hinduism, with some being written later.

The histories of the universe, supplements to the Vedas. There are eighteen major Puranas and many secondary ones. The major Puranas are divided into three groups of six, meant for readers in each of the three modes of material nature.

Hindu mythological texts

Ancient religious texts of Hinduism

Hindu scriptures containing the whole body of Hindu mythology (the major Puranas are eighteen in number)

(Skt. old or of former times). A body of Indian sacred writings (18 in number) which followed the Vedas, containing legendary account of the creation, destruction and re-creation of the universe, the genealogy, the gods, besides a mass of encyclopaedic information mostly in the form of parables. Of these, the Bhagvat and the Vishnu Purana are the most venerated.

Ancient ( pura) stories. This is a class of texts composed from as early as the fourth century B.C. (although they may contain prior oral material) and throughout the medieval period. They are considered Smriti (remembered tradition) as opposed to Shruti (Revealed tradition eg: the Veda)They are an enormous collection of texts which include all sorts of stuff: mythology, historical records, pilgrimage site, teachings on the dharma and liberation, cosmology, geography, physiology and much more. Linga: his is the symbol of /iva. It is an aniconic elongated cylindrical form that resembles and indeed refers to the phallus. It is usually set in a flat oval-shaped base that represents the union of /iva and his partner /akti, the union of male and female powers. Panda: These are the Brahmins who perform rituals for pilgrims along the Ghats. This is also a generic name for many types of ritual performers. They accept ritual gifts ( dana) as well as fees ( Daksina) for their services.

Purana (Sanskrit: , meaning "belonging to ancient times") is the name of a genre (or a group of related genres) of Hindu Sanskrit literature (as distinct from oral tradition). Its general themes are history, tradition and religion. It is usually written in the form of stories related by one person to another.