The Matsya Purana (critical study)
by Kushal Kalita | 2018 | 74,766 words | ISBN-13: 9788171103058
This page relates ‘Aims and objectives of the proposed thesis’ of the English study on the Matsya-purana: a Sanskrit text preserving ancient Indian traditions and legends written in over 14,000 metrical verses. In this study, the background and content of the Matsyapurana 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.
Part 6 - Aims and objectives of the proposed thesis
The cultural history of ancient India is well reflected in the passages of the Matsyapurāṇa as it exhibits the religious, political, historical, geographical, architectural aspects of the then India. The Matsyapurāṇa is regarded as encyclopedic in character by many a great historians and scholars. As mentioned before, it deals with almost all the aspects of human civilization. If one wishes to gather knowledge about human society of Purāṇic period, then the data found in the Matsyapurāṇa will be of the greatest use and help. In this connection it can also be mentioned that though all the Purāṇas are of great importance from the view point of supplying ample data for knowledge of ancient Indian history yet, the Matsyapurāṇa stands unique here as it brings everything under one roof. The study of the Matsyapurāṇa has a larger scope that covers a vast range of area.
The main objectives of the present thesis are:
• To study critically most of the data available in this Purāṇa.
• To establish this Purāṇa as a source of information about Indian culture, religious beliefs and practices.
• To show the literary merit of this Purāṇa.
• To discuss about the political scenario and the history of the kings and princes of India of that time.
• To find out the philosophical significance of this Purāṇa.
• To analyse the data available in this Purāṇa about art, architecture and geography.