Mythology is a collection of tales, such as the Puranas (whether historical or invented), that are founded on the philosophy and designed to inspire.
Some academics believe that the Puranas claim a connection to the Vedas, but that this connection is just symbolic and not substantive. Yet, according to the third set of experts, the connection exists, at least in terms of spiritual concepts and theology.
The Puranas are intended to be a supplement to Vedic literature, to understand its theories, and to aid in the dissemination of the concepts contained within it.
Rituals are used to put the philosophy into action in a symbolic way. Philosophy is at the heart of everything. In this context, the historicity of Indian mythology (Puranas) is considered subordinate to the main point. Our attention should be directed to collecting the ‘eternal truths’ contained within.
Although the Puranas do not contain any historical fact, they do serve as a tremendous authority for us in terms of the supreme truth that is instilled in us by the teachings that they provide.
As an example, the Ramayana is regarded as an authority on character development, and it is not even essential that someone like Rama actually existed in order for it to be considered such.
There is no requirement that any particular personality like Rama or Krishna existed in order for the law proposed by the Ramayana or the Bharata to be sublime; one can even hold that such personages never existed while still considering those writings to be high authorities in respect of the grand ideas that they present to mankind.
Our philosophy does not rely on the truth of anyone’s personality to be valid. As a result, neither Krishna nor the Ramayana preaches anything that is not already included in the Scriptures, nor did they teach anything that was fresh or unique to the world.
Purana is an etymological term that signifies ‘ancient or exceedingly old.’ According to the Vedic verse ‘nutanam yat puranam,’ which translates as ‘fresh but old,’ this is the case.
As a result, this is related to ‘Iswara,’ the everlasting as well as eternal Dharma (Sanatana Dharma), which is responsible for the maintenance, control, and management of the Universe and all of its constituents.
Puranas are the lowest rung on the epistemological ladder of Vedic literature, and they are tales that convey the core of the Vedas and the profound meaning of the Upanishads.
Such tales may be based on actual events or maybe entirely fictitious, or part of the characters may be entirely fictitious. The Mahabharatha is placed above the Puranas in the epistemic hierarchy, followed by the Ramayana and then the Vedas, with the Upanisads at the very top.
Take, for example, some tales from a well-known Purana known as the Srimad Bhagavad Purana. Prahlad was the son of King Hiranyakashyap and his wife. Son Prahlad was religious as well as spiritual, which was in opposition to his father’s expectations, who desired that his son is like him in every way.
They are actual figures, however, the description of tortures administered to Prahlad seems to be overblown. A famous example of two persons, one who is a non-believer and a rationalist, and another who is dedicated to a religious belief system.
One of the most famous stories is that of Dhruva, who was born to one of the wives of a monarch named Uttarapada. Due to the fact that the youngster wants to get affection from his monarch, his second wife insults him by asserting that the king’s love, devotion, and rights are shared with her son, regardless of the fact that she is the second wife.
Once again, a historical occurrence. Typically, it depicts a son who feels abandoned by his sibling or sister, who is shown to be cherished.
Puranjana’s life narrative is told in this episode. Here, the king falls in love with a lovely girl, lusts after her, spends his life on her, neglects his responsibilities, becomes old and ill, and eventually dies. Following the narrative, Narada explains that this story is parallel to the life of a real being who lives in this manner.
Then Narada explains what the narrative is about and what it means. Based on the explanations provided by Narada, we may reasonably assume that this is a fictitious tale.
After being entangled in the water while playing with his herd, a crocodile manages to grab one of the elephant’s legs. A lengthy account follows, detailing how the elephant attempted to free himself but was unable, and how he sought the assistance of those close to him but to no effect.
The elephant then seeks assistance from someone he believes to be strong above all powers, and he is eventually released. It is not necessary to accept the narrative literally. It might be interpreted as an extremely sad situation of a human being who has reached the end of his or her rope. Occasionally, a door opens after some individuals have entirely surrendered.
The Puranas were produced in order to make the Vedic faith more widely known. They carry the essence of the Vedas in their purest form. The Puranas’ purpose is to imprint the teachings of the Vedas on the minds of the people and to inspire in them a devotion to God.
Via concrete examples, myths, tales, legends, the lives of saints, monarchs, and great men, allegories, and accounts of important historical events.
In order to teach the everlasting truths of religion, the sages used these objects as examples. The Puranas were written not for intellectuals, but for common people who were unable to comprehend lofty philosophy and who were unable to study the Vedas, as was the case in ancient India.
The Darsanas, or schools of thought, are exceedingly rigid in their teachings. They are intended solely for a select group of highly educated individuals. The Puranas are written for those with a low level of intellectual ability.
The Puranas are a collection of religious texts that are both simple and enjoyable to read. Even now, the Puranas continue to be widely read. These ancient texts, known as Puranas, recount the history of ancient times.
The authors also provide a description of the portions of the cosmos that are not visible to the human visual system. They are quite intriguing to read and are jam-packed with a wealth of knowledge of all types. The tales are passed down to the children by their grandparents.
Kathas, or religious discussions, are held at temples, on the banks of rivers, and in other significant locations by Pundits and Purohits. The tales are heard by farmers, laborers, and individuals who frequent bazaars.
