Brahmanda Purana Pt. 1 (AITM Vol. 22): Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology

The present volume contains the Brahmat1da Purana, Part I (Chapters 1-38) completing the first-two sections (Prakriya and Anuanga) of the text in English Translation. This is the Twenty-second volume in the series which we have planned on Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology.

The project of the Series was envisaged and financed in 1970 by Lab Sundar Lal Jam of Messrs Motilal Banarsidass. Hitherto twenty-one volumes of the Series (comprising English translations of Siva, Linga, Bhagavata, Garuda, Narada, and Kurma Puranas) have been published and released for sale.

This Purana, like all other Purãnas, is encyclopedic in character. It deals with miscellaneous topics such as Cosmogony, Religion, Philosophy History, Geography, and Astronomy. It is called Brahmanda since it gives an explanation of the real state of affairs about the universe. It is divided into four sections Prakriya, Anusanga, Upodghata, and Upasarithara. It is accompanied by LalitcY-Mahatmya (the glorification of the Goddess Lalita) in 40 chapters.

The present volume consists of two Sections viz. Prakriya and Anusanga. Section 1 Prakriya consists of five chapters that deal with the creation of the universe in the light of the Vedic metaphysics which it expounds in detail in the Purãnic manner. This section describes the original state of equilibrium of gunas (qualities), the laying of the Golden Egg, and the emergence of the creator lord Brahma from it. The second section Anasanga, which this volume includes, contains 33 chapters (6-38). It is a connected continuation of the theme of Prakriya pada inasmuch as it recounts the account of the birth as well as the genealogies of Brahmarsis (Brahmanical sages), Devaris (Celestial sages) and Rajanis (Royal sages). The two sections which complete this volume illustrate the two characteristics of a Mah4urasia viz., Sarga (Creation) and Vathia (genealogy), although the latter trait is resumed in the third section, namely the Upodghata of the next volume.

The aim of this series is to universalize knowledge through the most popular international medium of expression namely English. Old Sanskrit text has been rendered into English as precisely as possible. The translation is based on the standard edition of the Venkateswara press. The test is well edited still it presents problems hard to be overcome by mere translation. The need for annotations is evident, therefore. The learned translator has added ample materials in the footnotes which facilitate the correct interpretation of the text. He has put elaborate comments in these notes on each and every problem of importance and discussed textual variations in the verses common in the preface. The comparative study of the Javanese text of Brahmanda Purana in the Kavi Language with the Sanskrit text of the present Purana is a feature that shall be most welcomed by the reader.

We have included abbreviations in this part. They will be repeated in the succeeding parts too with such additions as are made in the notes of those parts. The General index will be appended to the last part.