The Matsya Purana (critical study)

by Kushal Kalita | 2018 | 74,766 words | ISBN-13: 9788171103058

Hinduism Purana

Summary: An English study of the Matsya-purana: a Sanskrit text preserving ancient Indian traditions and legends written in over 14,000 metrical verses. The Matsyapurana includes typical encyclopedic topics and scientific content such as details on architecture, history, polity, religion and philosophy.

In this study, the background and content of the Matsya-purana is outlined against the cultural history of ancient India in terms of religion, politics, geography and architectural aspects. It shows how the encyclopedic character causes the text to deal with almost all the aspects of human civilization.

Original/other titles: Matsyapurāṇa (मत्स्यपुराण), Purāṇa (पुराण).

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the The Matsya Purana (critical study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Acknowledgement

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. Part 1 - An Introduction to Purāṇas

. Part 2 - Matsyapurāṇa: an introductory note

. Part 3 - Date of the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 4 - Contents of the Matsyapurāṇa (summary)

. Part 5 - Pañca-lakṣaṇa (the five characteristics) and the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 6 - Aims and objectives of the proposed thesis

. Part 7 - Review of literature

. Part 8-9 - Scope of the study and Methodology

+ Chapter 2 - Literary aspect of the Matsyapurāṇa

. Literary Aspect (Introduction)

. Part 1 - Use of Chandas (metres) in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 2 - Application of Alaṃkāra (figure of speech) in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 3 - Rasa (sentiment) in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 4 - Imagery in the Matsyapurāṇa

+ Chapter 3 - Historical aspects in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Historical Aspects of the Purāṇas (Introduction)

. Part 1 - Myths and Legends (Introduction)

. Part 1a - The myth of the Fish Incarnation

. Part 1b - The Legend of Yayāti-Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā

. Part 1c - The myth of Śiva-Pārvatī and demon Tārakāsura

. Part 1d-e - Kṛṣṇa, the Legendary Character

. Part 1f - The Myth of the Man-Lion Form of Lord Viṣṇu

. Part 1g - The Legend of Sāvitrī-Satyavāna

. Part 2 - Genealogy of Kings and Princes in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 2.1 - Dynasties of Pre-Mahābhārata war (Introduction)

. Part 2.1a - The Solar Dynasty

. Part 2.1b - The Ānarta Dynasty

. Part 2.1c - The Lunar Dynasty

. Part 2.1d - The Yādava Dynasty

. Part 2.1e - The Kukura Dynasty

. Part 2.1f - The Haihaya Dynasty

. Part 2.1g - The Caidya Dynasty

. Part 2.1h - The Andhaka Dynasty

. Part 2.1i - The Vṛṣṇi Dynasty

. Part 2.1j - The Turvasu Dynasty

. Part 2.1k - The Druhya Dynasty

. Part 2.1l - The Anva Dynasty

. Part 2.1m - The Paurava Dynasty

. Part 2.1n - The Pāñcāla Dynasty

. Part 2.1o - The Kaurava Dynasty

. Part 2.2 - Dynasties of Post-Mahābhārata war (Introduction)

. Part 2.2a - The Magadha Dynasty

. Part 2.2b - The Paurava Dynasty

. Part 2.2c - The Kośala Dynasty

. Part 2.2d - The Maurya Dynasty

. Part 2.2e - The Śuṅga Dynasty

. Part 2.2f - The Kanva or Kanvāyana Dynasty

. Part 2.2g - The Andhra Dynasty

+ Chapter 4 - Religious aspects of the Matsyapurāṇa

. Religious Aspects of the Purāṇas (Introduction)

. Part 1 - Vaiṣṇavism: The Viṣṇu-cult

. Part 1.1 - Different names of Viṣṇu

. Part 1.2 - Viṣṇu as the Supreme reality

. Part 1.3 - Incarnations of Viṣṇu

. Part 2 - Śaivism: The Śiva-cult

. Part 2.1 - Śiva as the Supreme lord

. Part 2.2 - Different names of Śiva

. Part 3 - Śāktism: The Devī-cult

. Part 4 - The concept of Vrata

. Part 4.2 - Vratas described in the Matsyapurāṇa (Introduction)

. Part 4.2a - Akṣayatṛtīyā-vrata

. Part 4.2b - Śivacaturdaśī-vrata

. Part 4.2c - Saṃkrānti-vrata

. Part 4.2d - Nakṣatrapuruṣa-vrata

. Part 4.2e - Rohiṇīcandraśayana-vrata

. Part 4.2f - Madanadvādaśī-vrata

. Part 4.2g - Ādityaśayana-vrata

. Part 4.3a - Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī-vrata

. Part 4.3b - Saubhāgyaśayana-vrata

. Part 4.3c - Gaurītṛtiyā-vrata

. Part 4.3d - Viśokadvādaśī-vrata

. Part 4.4 - List of other Vratas described in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 5 - Dāna (donation—the practice of cultivating kindness)

. Part 5.1 - The sixteen Mahādānas

. Part 5.2 - The ten Merudānas

+ Chapter 5 - Philosophy in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Philosophical Aspects of the Purāṇas (Introduction)

. Part 1 - Theory of Creation

. Part 2 - Main features of Sāṃkhya philosophy

. Part 2.1 - Sāṃkhya theory of Causation

. Part 3 - Sāṃkhya philosophy in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 4 - The Yoga philosophy

. Part 4.1 - The Aṣṭāṅgayoga (eightfold path of discipline)

. Part 5 - Yoga philosophy in the Matsyapurāṇa

+ Chapter 6 - Polity in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Plotical Aspects in the Purāṇas (Introduction)

. Part 1 - Theories of origin of Kingship

. Part 2 - The components of the State (the saptāṅga theory)

. Part 3 - Rājadharma (the duty of a king)

. Part 4 - Rājadharma in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 5 - The king and his Council (pariṣad)

. Part 6 - Qualifications of Ministers (amātya)

. Part 7a - Crime and Punishment (daṇḍa)

. Part 7b - Punishment with fine

. Part 7c - Physical Punishment and Death Sentence

+ Chapter 7 - Art and Architecture in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 1a - Note on Architecture (vāstu)

. Part 1b - The Vedic and Purāṇic sources of Architecture (vāstu)

. Part 1c - Architecture (vāstu) in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 2 - Fort (durga) architecture in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 2.1 - Measurement of Buildings

. Part 2.2 - Temple (prāsāda) architecture in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Part 3 - Art in the Matsyapurāṇa

+ Chapter 8 - Geographical data in the Matsyapurāṇa

. Geographical Aspects of the Purāṇas (Introduction)

. Part 1 - Bhūvanakoṣa: Geography of Seven Continents (saptadvīpā)

. Part 2 - Rivers and Mountains of Bhāratavarṣa

. Part 3a - Places of Pilgrimage

. Part 3b - Tīrthas recommended for Śrāddhas

. Part 3c - Tirthas on the bank of Narmadā

Chapter 9 - Conclusion

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Last Updated: 01 July, 2021

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