The Purāṇas are a vast genre of Hindu sacred literature, primarily in Sanskrit, that function as encyclopedic repositories of religious knowledge. Traditionally, they are said to comprise eighteen major Purāṇas (Mahāpurāṇas) along with numerous minor ones (Upapurāṇas), though specific lists and attributions can vary. Classical tradition describes them as characterized by five principal topics (pañca-lakṣaṇa): the primary creation of the universe (sarga), secondary creation and cycles of dissolution (pratisarga), genealogies of gods, sages, and kings (vaṃśa), the cycles ruled by different Manus (manvantara), and the histories of dynasties and notable figures (vaṃśānucarita). Alongside these core themes, they also encompass myths of various deities, narratives of cosmic ages and time cycles, pilgrimage geography, festivals, and ritual observances. In this way, they gather cosmology, sacred history, theology, and practical religious life into a single narrative framework.

Within the Hindu tradition, the Purāṇas serve as a bridge between the more esoteric Vedic corpus and the lived religion of ordinary practitioners. They render complex ideas about dharma, karma, and liberation into stories, dialogues, and parables that can be grasped by those not engaged in formal Vedic study. Many of these texts are oriented toward particular deities—such as Viṣṇu, Śiva, or Devī—and have played a formative role in shaping Vaiṣṇava, Śaiva, and Śākta devotional traditions. By presenting the powers, qualities, and compassionate acts of these deities in rich narrative form, they nurture bhakti and provide models of loving, personal relationship with the divine. Their influence extends into temple worship, vows, household ceremonies, and the observance of fasts and festivals, where Purāṇic passages are often recited and enacted.

The Purāṇas also function as custodians of cultural memory and identity. They preserve royal and sage genealogies, regional legends, and the sanctity of particular rivers, mountains, and pilgrimage sites, weaving local traditions into a broader sacred geography. Through this integrative role, they help harmonize diverse beliefs and practices, absorbing regional deities and customs into a pan-Hindu cosmological and theological vision. Some traditions even speak of the Purāṇas as a kind of “fifth Veda,” underscoring their authority as narrative expressions of Vedic truths suited to the present age. As such, they do not merely recount mythological tales; they offer a comprehensive vision of the universe, the gods, and the human journey, guiding adherents in both understanding and practice of dharma.