THE NARADA-PURANA

CONTENTS PART - I Trans By: Dr. G.V. Tagare A. ABBREVIATIONS xiii B. INTRODUCTION 1-56 I. The Naradiya Purana and its Place in the Evolution of the Purana Literature. 1 i. The Ur-Purana 1 ii. The Mula Puranas 2 iii. Puranam Panca-Laksanam 5 iv. Dharma-Sastra and Puranas 6 v. Dharmasastra in the Narada Purana 7 vi. The Purana in Modern Indian Languages. 8 II. The Naradiya as a Mahapurana 9 1. Sarga (Creation) 11 2. Pratisarga (Re-creation after dissolution) 13 3. Vamsa (Genealogies) 13 4. Manvantara (Ages of Manus) 16 5. Vamsanucaritam (History of Royal Dynastics) 18 III. The Sources of the Naradiya and its Probable Date 18 IV. The Vedangas in the Narada Purana 24 1. Siksa 24 2. Kalpa 27 3. Vyakarana 28 4. Nirukta 28 5. Jyotisa 29 6. Chandas 30 V. The Narada Purana and Tantrism 30 1. Tantra 31 2. Mantra 32 3. Yantra 37 VI. Religious Sects in the Narada Purana 42 1. Pancaratras and Vaisnavism 43 2. Saivism 44 3. Saktism 45 VII. Religion and Philosophy in the Narada Purana 48 1. Castes and stages in life 48 2. Cosmogony 49 3. Yoga and its Kinds 49 VIII. The Interpretations of Bhagavata and Bhagavata 52 IX. The Dharma Sastra 52 X. The Narada Purana and the Mahapuranas 53 XI. The Author 54 XII. Concluding Remarks 55 C. TRANSLATION AND NOTES PART I CHAPTERS 1. Dialogue between Suta and Sages 57 2. Eulogy of Lord Visnu 75 3. Description of the Sphere of the Earth and of Bharata 89 4. Anecdote of Markandeya 102 5. Description of Markandeya's Life 114 6. Glory of the Ganga river 126 7. Glory of the Ganga river (contd.) 142 8. Glory of the Ganga river (contd.) 152 9. Glory of the Ganga river (contd.) 166 10. Defeat of Devas by Bali 181 11. Glory of the Ganga: Origin of the river. 188 12. Dialogue between god Dharma and King Bhagiratha 210 13. Discourse on Dharma 220 14. Directions Regarding Dharma and Propitiatory rites 238 15. Bhagiratha advised to bring the Ganga 255 16. Bhagiratha brings down the Ganga 271 17. Narration of the vowed Observance of Dvadasi day 283 18. Holy Observance pertaining to Laksmi-Narayana 296 19. Installation of the Banner 300 20. The Legend of King Sumati 307 21. The holy rite of Five Nights 316 22. Fast for a month 320 23. Ekadasi Vrata 324 24. Conduct of the Good and Approved usages 334 25. Vedic Studies and Other Religious Duties 340 26. Dharma of the Householder 347 27. Religious Duties of the Householders, Forest Hermits and Sannyasins 355 28. Rite of Sraddha 370 29. Determination of Lunar days 382 30. Mode of Expiation 391 31. Duties of the Emmissaries of Yama 404 32. Forest of Worldly Existence 412 33. A Discourse on Yoga 421 34. Characteristics of Devotion to Hari 438 35. Anecdote of Vedamali on Spiritual Knowledge 445 36. Efficacy of Service unto Visnu: Story of Yajnamali and Sumali 452 37. Greatness of Visnu, Story of Gulika, the hunter 458 38. Uttanka's Eulogy of Visnu. Uttanka Liberated 465 39. Greatness of Visnu: Story of Raivata 473 40. Greatness of Visnu: Story of Sudharma 480 41. Glory of the Lord's Name 487 Illustration: Sarvato-bhadra 294a PART II Translated By: Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare A. PREFACE vii B. ABBREVIATIONS xi C. TRANSLATIONS AND NOTES Chapters 42. Cosmogony: The Origin of the Universe 499 43. Traditional Duties of Brahmanas 514 44. A Discourse on Meditation 534 45. Exposition of Dharmas leading to Liberation 547 46. Narration of Spiritual matters 563 47. Exposition of the way to realize the Soul 576 48. Story of Bharata 585 49. Exposition of the Virtuous Path to Liberation 594 50. Arrangement of notes and syllables 605 51. Treatise on Rituals 636 52. Exposition of Grammar 657 53. Exposition of Nirukta 674 54. Mathematics and Astronomy 691 55. Delineation of Horoscopy 723 56. Natural Astrology 778 57. Description of Prosody 868 58. Suka's Temptation 873 59. Dialogue between Suka and Janaka 880 60. Dialogue between Suka and Sanatkumara 887 61. Greatness of Nivrtti Dharma 898 62. Exposition of Moksa-dharma 907 PART III Translated By: Hemendra Nath Chakravorty A. PREFACE vii B. TRANSLATOR'S NOTE ix C. ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS x D. ABBREVIATIONS xvii Chapters 63. Principles of Pasupata Philosophy 915 64. Procedure of Initiation 926 65. Procedure of repeating the mantras 932 66. Daily Prayers and Ritual 941 67. Worship of Devas 955 68. Ganesa Mantra 967 69. Procedure of repeating the Mantras 976 70. Japa of Mahavisnu 990 71. Worship of Nrsimha 1008 72. Worship of Hayagriva 1034 73. Worship of Rama and Others 1034 74. Worship of Hanuman 1051 75. Procedure of showing lamp to Hanuman 1068 76. Glory of Karttavirya 1078 77. Karttavirya-Kavaca 1090 78. Hanumat-Kavaca 1102 79. Life of Hanuman 1107 80. Mantras of Krsna 1136 81. Mantras of Krsna and others 1165 82. A Thousand names of Radha and Krsna 1179 83. The Panca Prakrti Mantra 1199 84. The Mantra of the Goddess 1213 85. Yaksini Mantra 1223 86. Incarnation of Laksmi 1238 87. Mantras of Goddess Durga 1249 88. Mantras of Radha and Others 1263 89. One thousand names of Lalita 1288 90. The narrative of Nitya deities 1303 91. The narrative of the Mantra of Mahesa 1323 PART IV Translated By: Dr. G.V. Tagare A. PREFACE vii B. ABBREVIATIONS ix Chapters 92. The Brahmapurana: Contens and merit accrued 1345 93. The Padma Purana: Contents 1352 94. The Visnu Purana: Contens 1357 95. The Vayu Purana: Contents 1360 96. The Bhagavata Purana: Contents 1362 97. The Naradiya Purana: Contents 1366 98. The Markandeya Purana: Contents 1368 99. The Agni Purana: Contents 1371 100. The Bhavisya Purana: Contents 1374 101. The Brahma-Vaivarta Purana: Contents 1376 102. The Linga Purana: Contents 1379 103. The Varaha Purana: Contents 1382 104. The Skanda Purana: Contents 1384 105. The Vamana Purana: Contents 1405 106. The Kurma Purana: Contents 1408 107. The Matsya Purana: Contents 1410 108. The Garuda Purana: Contents 1413 109. The Brahmanda Purana: Contents 1418 110. The exposition of Vratas to be performed on Pratipad (the first day of the lunar fortnight) 1422 111. Exposition of Vratas to be observed on Dvitiyas (the second day of the lunar fortnight) 1428 112. Enumeration of Vratas to be observed on Trtiyas (the third day of the lunar fortnight) 1431 113. The Exposition of the holy rites to be performed on Caturthis (the fourth day of the lunar fortnight) 1440 114. The Exposition of the Holy Vratas to be performed on Pancami days (the fifth day of the lunar fortnight) 1449 115. The Exposition of the holy vows to be observed on Sasthi (the sixth day in the lunar fortnight) 1456 116. The Exposition of the rites to be observed on Saptami (the seventh day) 1462 117. The Review of the Vratas to be observed on Astami (the eight day of the lunar fortnight) 1469 118. The Exposition of the Vratas to be observed on Navami (the ninth day of the lunar fortnight) 1480 119. The Holy rites to be observed on Dasami (the tenth day of the lunar fortnight) 1483 120. The Exposition of the Vratas to be observed on Ekadasi (the eleventh day of the lunar fortnight) 1491 121. The Holy rites to be observed on Dvadasi (the twelfth day of the lunar fortnight) 1501 122. The Vratas to be observed on Trayodasi (the thirteenth day of the lunar fortnight) 1512 123. The Vratas to be observed on Caturdasi (The fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight) 1521 124. The Exposition of Vratas to be observed on the Full Moon and the New Moon Days 1529 125. The greatness of the Purana 1539 UTTARABHAGA Chapters 1. The greatness of Ekadasi day 1546 2. Discussion of Tithis 1548 3. Yama goes to the Region of Brahma 1554 4. An Appeal by Yama 1560 5. The lamentation of Yama 1563 6. God Brahma's Reply 1565 7. The Statement of Brahma 1567 8. The description of Mount Mandara 1574 9. A Dialogue between Rukmangada and Dharmangada 1577 10. The dialogue between Rukmangada and Harsadeva 1582 11. Rukmangada meets Mohini 1588 12. Stipulation of the Conditions 1593 13. The Fascination of Mohini 1596 14. The salvation of Godha (the Lizard) 1599 15. The dialogue between the father (Rukmangada) and the son (Dharmangada) 1605 16. The Anecdote of a chaste lady 1610 17. The Statement of Mohini 1617 18. Honouring the Mothers 1622 19. The love-making of Mohini 1627 20. Dharmangada's conquer of quarters 1631 21. Dharmangada's marriages and his order as a Ruler 1634 22. The glory of the month of Karttika 1638 23. Mohini's dialogue with Rukmangada 1647 24. Questions of Mohini 1656 25. The story of Mohini 1662 26. The story of Mohini (continued) 1670 27. The story of Kasthila 1671 28. Kasthila's story (continued) 1685 29. The description of Kasi 1693 30. The story of Kasthila (continued) 1701 31. The glory of the month of Magha 1708 32. The Narration of Sandhyavali 1713 33. The Submission of Dharmangada 1720 34. The Vision of the Lord 1726 35. Mohini incurs a Curse 1728 36. Brahma intercedes for Mohini 1736 37. Mohini regains her physical body 1742 PART V Translated By: Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare A. PREFACE vii B. ABBREVIATIONS ix Chapters 38. The Greatness of the Ganga 1747 39. The Glory of Ablution in the Ganga 1753 40. The Fruit of Ablution in Different Holy Centres 1757 41. The Procedure for Charitable Gifts 1763 42. The Procedure for the Gift of Guda-dhenu 1770 43. The Procedure of Worship of the Ganga 1774 44. The Greatness of Gaya 1787 45. The Procedure of offering Pindas in the Gaya-Yatra 1797 46. Importance of offering Pindas at Gaya 1808 47. The Glory of Gaya 1814 48. The Greatness of Kasi 1824 49. Pilgrimage to Kasi 1833 50. The Glory of Kasi 1839 51. The Greatness of Kasi (concluded) 1846 52. The Greatness of Purusottama (Jagannatha of Puri) 1846 53. The Greatness of Purusottama (contd.) 1859 54. The Glory of Purusottama (contd.) 1865 55. The Greatness of Purusottama (contd.) 1876 56. The Greatness of Purusottama (contd.) 1876 57. The Glory of Purusottama: The Procedure of Worship 1896 58. The Creation of the Golden Egg 1902 59. Purusottama Mahatmyam (Contd.) 1909 60. Ablution of Deity 1913 61. The Fruit of Pilgrimage to Purusottama Ksetra 1920 62. The Greatness of Prayaga; the Procedure of Pilgrimage 1929 63. The Greatness of Prayaga (concluded) 1935 64. The Greatness of Kuruksetra 1952 65. Pilgrimage to Kuruksetra 1956 66. Glory of Gangadvara (or Haridvara) 1969 67. The Greatness of Badarikasrama 1975 68. The Legend of Kamada 1983 69. The Greatness of Kamaksa 1985 70. The Greatness of Prabhasa 1989 71. The Greatness of Puskara 1998 72. The Power of Austerities of Gautama 2004 73. The Greatness of Tryambakesvara 2008 74. The Glory of Gokarna 2024 75. The Greatness of Laksmanacala 2028 76. The Greatness of Setu 2035 77. Sancitity of the Tirthas in Narmada 2037 78. The Glory of Avanti 2040 79. The Greatness of Mathura 2045 80. The Glory of Vrndavana 2050 81. The Review of the Story of Vasu 2061 82. The Benefit of Listening to the Narada Purana 2066 INDEX, general 2073