Chapter 9.16 - The Naradiya-upapurana (study)

Naradiya Upapurana. 66 This work is mentioned in all the lists of Upapuranas. In the majority of the lists it is called 'Naradiya'; but in a few it is mentioned as 'Naradokta', and in one, as 'Naradiyaka'. According to Kasirama Vacaspati, the 'Naradiya' Upapurana is the same as the 'Brhannaradiya'.67 But this view is not at all acceptable. Had the 'Naradiya' Upapurana and the 'Brhannaradiya' been identical, there

66 For these lists see Volume I, pp. 4-13. 67 See Kasirama Vacaspati's com. on the Malamasa-tattva (ed. Candicarana Smrtibhusana), p. 213-naradiyam brhannaradiyam.

would be at least one list of Upapuranas in which the name of the 'Brhannaradiya' would occur in place of the 'Naradiya'. On the contrary, the Brhaddharma-purana and the Ekamra-purana mention both the 'Naradiya' and the 'Brhannaradiya' in their lists of Upapuranas. The Naradiya Upapurana must also not be taken to be the same as the present Naradiya-mahapurana. The latter was compiled mainly with the chapters of the Brhannaradiya.68 Moreover, Mitra-misra says that the 'Naradiya', included among the Upapuranas, was different from the Naradiya-mahapurana.69 As the 'Naradiya" Upapurana is mentioned in all the lists of Upapuranas, it must have been a popular work written at an early date. Yet no commentator or Nibandhawriter is found to utilise or refer to its contents. It is highly probable that this Upapurana became extinct quite early.70 According to the Reva-khanda (of the Skanda-purana) and the Revamahatmya, it belonged to the Bhavisya-purana.

68 Hazra, Puranic Records, pp. 127 ff.

69 Viramitrodaya, Paribhasa-prakasa, p. 14 upapuran-antargate naradiyabrahmanda-purane bhinne.