The Markandeya Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas is written on a style of conversation between sage Jaimini and sage Markandeya. Different from the other Puranas, this Purana is neutral to Vishnu and Shiva i.e. it has no sectarian content. The beginning of the Markandeya Purana is from the mouth of Jaimini asking four questions to Markandeya.

There are one hundred thirty four chapters included in this Purana. Of all these, the chapters starting from fifty and ending to ninety-seven contain the accounts of the fourteen Manvantaras (the periods of the Manus). Among these, chapters 78-90 are together known as Devi Mahatmya or Glorification of the great goddess. The chapters 108-133 deal with the genealogies of the Puranic dynasties.