One of the eighteen Mahapuranas of Hindu tradition and among the most systematically organized, the Vishnu Purana sets out Vaishnava cosmology, the cyclical structure of time in kalpas, manvantaras and yugas, the genealogies (vamsha) of solar and lunar dynasties and of the gods, and an account of Krishna's life that later Puranas, especially the Bhagavata Purana, expand at far greater length. Traditional dating places its core compilation in the early centuries of the Common Era, with later interpolation, as is typical of the Purana genre; authorship is traditionally credited to the sage Vyasa, the legendary compiler of the entire Puranic corpus, though modern scholarship treats this as an attribution rather than a historical claim about a single author.
Facts
Origins
Era of CompositionEstimates of its composition range from 400 BCE to 900 CE 1 The article states, quoting Ludo Rocher, "the date of the Vishnu Purana is as contested as that of any other Purana", and lists scholarly estimates scattered across an even wider span (Smith 400-300 BCE, Hazra 275-325 CE, Doniger c. 450 CE, Vaidya c. 9th century). Rather than average or pick one, the article's own summarizing range is recorded. Attributed Author / CompilerTraditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa, the legendary compiler of the Puranic corpus; modern scholarship treats the text as a composite work assembled and expanded over centuries rather than a single author's composition. 2 Structure
StructureSix books (amsha), covering cosmology and creation, the genealogies of gods and sages, the four ages and duties (varna and ashrama), the dynastic lists of the solar and lunar lines including the life of Krishna, and closing with teaching on liberation and the dissolution of the universe. 2 Status
Canonical Status Status TodayLiving tradition, practised today 2 Text
Literary FormCosmogony / creation myth 2 Connections
Associated With
This source names Vishnu directly: "the most systematically organized, the Vishnu Purana sets out Vaishnava cosmology, the cyclical structure of time in kalpas, manvantaras and yugas, the genealogies (vamsha) of solar and lunar..."
Source Vishnu PuranaAnonymous
Vyasa, Figures This source names Vyasa directly: "is traditionally credited to the sage Vyasa, the legendary compiler of the entire Puranic corpus, though modern scholarship treats this as an attribution rather than a historical claim about a..."
Source Vishnu PuranaAnonymous
Attributed To
Belongs to Tradition
Source Vishnu PuranaAnonymous
In Language
Originates in Language
Source Wikidata: Vishnu Purana
Sources
1. Vishnu Purana (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia: Vishnu Purana, lead section
The text is also notable as the earliest Purana to have been translated and published. ... Estimates of its composition range from 400 BCE to 900 CE.
- In Group: Smriti Scriptures, One of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of ancient and medieval texts of Hinduism.
Attributed To: Vyasa, Infobox: author
Vyasa
View the Source2. Vishnu Purana
Wikidata: Vishnu Purana
Originates in Language: Sanskrit, Infobox, language fieldQuote, Originates in Language: Sanskrit, Infobox, language field
Sanskrit
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