Puranas

         The Puranas (/pʊˈrɑːnəz/; singular: Sanskrit: पुराण purāṇa, "of ancient times") are ancient Hindu texts eulogizing various deities, primarily the divine Trimurti God in Hinduism through divine stories. Puranas may also be described as a genre of important Hindu religious texts alongside some Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.The Puranas are frequently classified according to the Trimurti (Trinity or the three aspects of the divine).ThePadma Purana classifies them in accordance with the three gunas or qualities as Sattva (Truth and Purity), Rajas (Dimness and Passion) and Tamas (Darkness and Ignorance).

Puranas usually give prominence to a particular deity, employing an abundance of religious and philosophical concepts. They are usually written in the form of stories related by one person to another. The Puranas are available in vernacular translations and are disseminated by Brahmin scholars, who read from them and tell their stories, usually in Katha sessions (in which a traveling Brahmin settles for a few weeks in a temple and narrates parts of a Purana, usually with a Bhaktiperspective).

Purana name	Verses number	Comments
Agni	15,400 verses	Contains details of Vastu Shastra and Gemology.
Bhagavata	18,000 verses	Indologist Ludo Rocher considers it to be the most celebrated and popular of the Puranas,[20][21] telling of Vishnu's ten Avatars. Its tenth and longest canto narrates the deeds of Krishna, introducing his childhood exploits, a theme later elaborated by many Bhakti movements.[22]
Brahma	10,000 verses	Describes the Godavari and its tributaries.
Brahmanda	12,000 verses	Includes Lalita Sahasranamam, a text some Hindus recite as prayer.
Brahmavaivarta	17,000 verses	Describes ways to worship Devis, Krishna and Ganesha.
Garuda	19,000 verses	Describes death and its aftermaths.
Harivamsa	16,000 verses	Is considered to be itihāsa (epic poetry).
Kurma	17,000 verses	Is the second of ten major avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Linga	11,000 verses	Describes the magnificence of Lingam, symbol of Shiva, and origin of the universe. It also contains many stories of Lingam one of which entails how Agni Lingam solved dispute between Vishnu and Brahma.
Markandeya	09,000 verses	The Devi Mahatmya, an important text for the Shaktas, is embedded in it.
Matsya	14,000 verses	Narrates the story of Matsya, the first of ten major Avatars of Vishnu. It also contains genealogical details of various dynasties.[23]
Narada	25,000 verses	Describes the greatness of Vedas and Vedangas.
Padma oldest	55,000 verses	Describes the greatness of Bhagavad Gita. Hence, it is also known as gītāmāhātmya (lit. the majesty of Gita).
Shiva	24,000 verses	Describes the greatness of Shiva, greatness in worshiping Shiva and other stories about him.
Skanda	81,100 verses	Describes the birth of Skanda (or Karthikeya), first son of Shiva. The longest Purana, it is an extraordinarily meticulous pilgrimage guide, containing geographical locations of pilgrimage centers in India, with related legends, parables, hymns and stories. Many untraced quotes are attributed to this text.[24]
Vamana	10,000 verses	Describes areas around Kurukshetra in North India.
Varaha	24,000 verses	Describes various forms prayer and devotional observances to Vishnu. Many illustrations also involve Shiva and Durga.[25]
Vayu	24,000 verses	Another name of Shiva Purana
Vishnu	23,000 verses	Describes the many deeds of Vishnu and various ways to worship him.[26]