The Puranas present a vast tapestry in which cosmology, sacred history, and spiritual instruction are woven together. They describe the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the universe, the great cycles of time such as yugas and manvantaras, and the layered structure of the cosmos with its many worlds and realms. Within this framework stand the five traditional topics often highlighted: primary creation (sarga), secondary creation and re-creation (pratisarga), the genealogies of gods, sages, and royal lines (vamsha), the eras ruled by different Manus (manvantara), and the chronicles of dynasties and their deeds (vamshanucharita). Through these themes, cosmic time and human history are linked in a single sacred narrative.

Alongside this cosmological and genealogical vision, the Puranas unfold rich theologies centered on deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi, among others. They recount myths, divine incarnations and exploits, and the attributes and roles of these gods and goddesses, often with a devotional orientation that encourages worship and reverence. Stories of gods, demons, sages, kings, and exemplary devotees serve not merely as entertainment but as vehicles for illustrating divine intervention, the workings of karma, and the consequences of human choices. In this way, mythic narrative becomes a subtle teacher of both metaphysical truths and everyday virtues.

A major concern of the Puranas is dharma—righteous conduct, social duty, and ethical living. They articulate moral codes and the duties associated with social roles and stages of life, and they discuss principles of governance and social organization. Dharma is not presented abstractly; it is embodied in stories that show how truthfulness, generosity, self-restraint, and devotion operate in concrete situations. These texts also explore philosophical themes, drawing on currents such as Vedanta, Samkhya, and Yoga to discuss the nature of the self, the universe, karma, rebirth, and liberation, often in a form accessible to a broad audience.

The ritual and practical dimensions of spiritual life also receive sustained attention. The Puranas describe sacrifices, vows, fasts, festivals, and pilgrimages, along with the spiritual merit associated with these practices. Sacred geography is evoked through accounts of holy places, rivers, mountains, and pilgrimage sites, imbuing the physical landscape with spiritual significance. Calendrical and astronomical details, such as the structuring of religious observances in time, further root devotion in the rhythms of the cosmos. Taken together, these themes make the Puranas function as comprehensive repositories of religious narrative, ethical guidance, ritual instruction, and cosmological vision.