LEGENDS IN PURANAS

Puranas form a rich and significant department of Sanskrit literature. They are rooted in the Vedic literature and as such they are closely connected with the Vedas. In their encyclopaedic character and contents they contain also myths and legends some of which are inherited from the Vedas. The Rgveda contains some hymns, which are known as "dialogue-hymns" ("samvada-suktas") or "akhyana-hymns"or "ballads" or "mythological ballads" and some of them have migrated to Puranas. The idea that Puranas complement the Vedas finds its expression in the principle of Uprhrmhana enunciated by the Mahabharata. In this role Puranas explain, amplify, complement and supplement the Vedic ideas/teachings in their own way. In the exegetic/explanatory function Puranas throw, some times, important light by playing a confirmatory and/or explanatory role in different ways. This is a time-honoured principle and is to be applied with due care and caution. The principle of Uprhrmhanais in different words a correlative study of Vedic and Puranic versions of myths and legends and ideas in the interpretational and developmental aspect. In a way it is a bifocal study. In this monograph an attempt is made to study some of the legends from this correlative point of view.

About the Author:

Prof. S.G. Kantawala is former Head of the Department of Sanskrit, M.S. University of Baroda and presently associated with the M.S. University as a Shastra Chudamani Scholar. He has also been the Dean, Faculty of Arts and the Director, Oriental Institute, M.S. University. He has been visiting fellow in some Indian Universities. As a Common wealth scholar, he visited Cambridge University, Cambridge, U.K. and Torino, Italy. He has specialized in Puranic studies and has to his credit more than 150 research papers published in Indian and foreign journals, felicitation and commemoration volumes and encyclopaedias.