Bhagavata Purana, Bhāgavata Purāṇa: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Bhagavata Purana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Bhagavata Purana in Hinduism glossary
Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

The Bhagavata Purana (भागवत पुराण), also called the Srimad Bhagavatam, extolls the virtues of Lord Vishnu as the supreme personality of the Godhead. It is one of the chief Vaishnavaite Puranas. It was composed by the sage Vyasa. It is divided into 335 chapters, organized into 12 Cantos.

The Cantos are:

  1. Canto 1 - Creation
  2. Canto 2 - The Cosmic Manifestation
  3. Canto 3 - The Status Quo
  4. Canto 4 - The Creation of the Fourth Order
  5. Canto 5 - The Creative impetus
  6. Canto 6 - Prescribed duties for mankind
  7. Canto 7 - The Science of God
  8. Canto 8 - Withdrawal of Cosmic Creations
  9. Canto 9 - Liberation
  10. Canto 10 - The Summum Bonnum
  11. Canto 11 - General History
  12. Canto 12 - The Age of Deterioration
Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Sanskrit literature, with its primary focus on bhakti (religious devotion) to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna. The Sanskrit text comprises twelve skandas (cantos or books) and some 18,000 verses. The Bhāgavata includes many stories well known in Vedic tradition, including the various avatars of Vishnu and the life of Krishna. It was the first Purana to be translated into a European language, with three French translations also between 1840 and 1857.

The intense and personal bhakti described in the Bhāgavata is directed toward Krishna as Vishnu in human form. The Bhāgavata takes the form of a story recounting Vyasa's work being recited for the first time by his son Śuka to the dying King Parikshit, who owes his life to Krishna. Longing to hear of Krishna before he dies, Parikshit hears the Bhāgavata recited by Śuka, including questions by the king and replies by the sage, over the course of seven days.

The Bhāgavata is widely recognized as the best known and most influential of the Puranas, and is sometimes referred to as the "Fifth Veda".

Like all Puranas, the Bhāgavata is a product of oral tradition, its extant version usually dated to the ninth or tenth century CE. The tradition of the Vaisnava scholars of the text puts it contemporary with date of Krishna's birth, known as Janmashtami; 18 July 3228 BCE. The text itself credits Veda Vyasa with its authorship.

etymology: Bhāgavata Purāṇa (Devanāgarī: भागवतपुराण, also known as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, or Bhāgavata)

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