Book Review: Pauranik Kahaniyan

‘Pauranik Kahaniyan’ (in Hindi)

Gita Press, Gorakhpur

Pages 128

[ISBN 81-293-1400-2]

The Puranas (पुराण) are part of the Hindu sacred texts. These are ancient compilations; the great sage Vyasa is considered the original compiler of the Puranas, though it is largely believed that the texts have been modified or added all through the history of India. These are compilations written in the form of stories, with many of the Puranas spreading a flow of devotion or Bhakti in the hearts of the readers. Different Puranas are based on many Hindu deities. Many of us would love to get hold of the Puranas and read through the translated versions of the ancient texts (from original Sanskrit). Gita Press (http://www.gitapress.org/) has been doing the commendable job of making such texts available to all, at a very low cost. This book is an example of the same efforts, without which many of us may not have been able to read some of the original stories from the Puranas.

Having read this book, I can’t remain without appreciating the intent of writing the Puranas. These are not purely religious texts, but contain great social wisdom. Each story imparts the readers with a life-building moral learning. Many stories from the Puranas ask us to respect our parents; while one story from Skanda Purana tells us the importance of doing Punya (noble works) in our life in order to secure a good Parloka (after-life). There are stories where the importance of good work like helping the poor is counted higher than doing pure Bhakti (one from Skand Puran); where devotion and worship is shown as critical (one from Varah Puran), where shunning ego is shown very necessary, if we don’t give daana (charities) we won’t get food to eat in the Parloka (after-life) – from Padmapurana, the importance of speaking the truth (a touching story where a lion catches hold of a cow who promises him to come back to him as his food after supporting and consoling its baby calf, and she indeed turns up, so as to keep her word) and the likes. Puranas were also written in devotion of particular deities, though in this book we get a collection of stories and hence a variety of education. One story from Vaman Puran is about how Lord Vishnu got his Sudarshan Chakra because of blessing from Lord Shiva, while another one tells us how once Lord Brahma’s pride was broken (from Brahmvaivart Puran), and one where Muni Narad’s pride is shaken (from Shiv Puran).

There are also many stories where complex events take place and we get to know in the end who all are going to the heaven (Swarga) and who to the hell (Naraka) and because of what reasons. The intent is to inspire us to do “real” good work, rather than just to secure good place.

One piece from Padma Puran tells us the five great pilgrimages (Maha Tirthas): (1) Pitri Tirth (devotion to parents) (2) Pati Tirth (devotion to one’s spouse) (3) Samata Tirth (practicing equality to all humans ignoring caste/creed/status), (4) Adroh Tirth (noble attitude towards all), and (5) Bhakti Tirth (devotion to God). I think devotion to one’s parents, importance of helping the poor and always speaking the truth, are three most common themes in the stories I read in this book.

In these times when a lot of pollutions have happened around us, where we have few truly noble persons to guide us, I think turning to the ancient wisdom in our texts like the Puranas is one very helping initiative in the right direction.

© Rahul