Vayu-purana

Vayu-purana

वायु पुराण, vāyu purāṇa

"Vayu Purana" Included in some lists of the 18 Mahapuranas, it contains 24,000 shlokas (but only 12,000 have reached us). It is mentioned in many texts including the "Mahabharata" and is considered one of the oldest Puranas. It has been edited over the centuries and has come down to us in various versions. The first editions date back to the 4th century AD.

The "Vayu Purana" discusses cosmology, genealogy of gods and kings, solar and lunar dynasties, origin of animals and plants, mythology, geography, manvantaras, yugas, astronomy, and description of the seven patalas. Later inserts discuss the duties of varnas. The text contains many similarities with the "Brahmanda Purana" and is believed to have originated from the same text. There are versions of the text consisting of four parts (padas) and 112 chapters, and there are those of two khandas and 111 chapters.

The purana also contains chapters on music, yoga, and descriptions of places of pilgrimage. Narrated from the perspective of the god Vayu.