The most important of all the eighteen Puranas, the Vishnu Purana is known as the Puranratna, which means the gems of Puranas. Primarily it is the sacred text of the Vaishnava branch of Hinduism. Similar to the other Puranas the Vishnu Purana also narrates the story of the creation of Cosmos to its destruction at the end. The text of Vishnu Purana opens with the introduction of the four Yugas at the beginning of the text. In addition to these, there are widespread sections on lineage of the celebrated kings, heroes and demigods of ancient India, including those from the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata
Vishnu Purana, the most important part of the Puranas contains the five technical divisions. It is also divided into six adisas or khandas or chapters. It deals with the events of Varahakalpa and contains 23,000 shlokas. The theme is the ten incarnations of Maha Vishnu. Vishnu Purana is the most ancient of all the Puranas.
The main text of Vishnu Purana opens with the conversation between a sage and a disciple. The method of narration is in the form a conversation, where the sage Parasar teaches his disciple Maitereya. In the Vishnu Purana the reference of the Mauryas dynasty is found. Hence the scholars have surmised it to be composed in the first or second century AD.
The narrator himself states the very essence of Vishnu Purana. Vyasa adept in the composition of Puranas composed this Puranasarirhita with akhyanas, upikhyanas, githas and kalpanirnayas. A Suta named Romaharsana was Vyasa`s chief disciple. Vyasa in order to propagate his teachings among his disciples gave that Samhita to that Suta. Romaharsana had six disciples named Sumati, Agnivarcas, Mitrayus, Sarhsapiyana, Akrtavrana and Savarni. Of these, Akrtavrana, Savarni and Sarhsapiyana born in the Kasyapagotra have composed Puranasamhitas, which are based on the teachings of Vyasa described in Samhita. There is yet another sarirhita composed by Romaharsana which became the basis of the sarirhitas of his three disciples. As Romaharsana himself says, he composed Vishnu Purana based on the above four samhita.
It has been enumerated in the text of Vishnu Purana, if a man gives as a gift a book of Vishnu Purana on the full-moon day in the month of asadha (July) with Jaladhenu he will attain the sacred Vishnupada.
The test of Vishnu Purana is compiled into six parts. The first part narrates the creation of the universe, pralay and the churning of the sea. The second part contains a geographical description of the earth when it divided into seven islands, after the churning of sea. The third part describes the origin of Buddhism. The fourth part contains a description about the inhabitants of the earth from the beginning of its creation. The fifth part is entirely devoted to the life and plays of Lord Krishna. The sixth part contains the description of religion in Kali Yuga. Thus the Vishnu Purana in its three parts demonstrates the Universe, from its creation till its destruction.
The first part with which the Vishnu Purana deals with is the description of the creation of the universe, birth of the gods and the demons, pralaya, churning of the sea, tales of the devotee Dhruva, killing of Hiranyakashipu, etc.
The second part contains the description of mythological description of Priyavrata`s sons and the Bharata dynasty. It also has a geographical description of Jambu dvipa, Bharata varsa, Shatdweep, Patal (the Hades), the sun and the planets, chariot of the sun, origin of the Ganges, etc.
The third part of Vishnu Purana is an important segment since it deals with the human existence in the God create world. This contains a detailed description of Manvantara, Kalpa, Veda Vyasa, religion, the caste system, etc. It also has a description of the origin of Buddhism. The origin of the class and caste according to the profession was first described with the detailed description in the third part of Vishnu Purana.
The fourth part describes the genealogies of kings and dynasties in the earth. This describes the origin of Brahman and Daksha, birth of Pururava, marriage of Balarama with Revati, birth of Iksvaku, the Kukutstha dynasty, tale of Yuvanashva and Saubhari, Sarpvinasha mantra, Narayana dynasty, birth of Sagar, Ashwamedha by Sagar, and flowing of the Ganges through the penance of Bhagiratha. Also the birth of Lord Rama, yagya of Vishwamitra, birth of Sita, tales of the Chandra dynasty, the abduction of Tara, origin of Agnitrayo, birth of Dhanvantri and his clan, wars with the demons, clan of Nahush, tale of Yayati, Yadu dynasty and birth of Kartveerya Arjun.
The fifth year deals with the life and birth of Lord Krishna. Along with it the fifth part describes the genealogies of Kings. The fifth part also has a detailed description with a thorough introduction of the Kali Yug. There are tales of Krishna`s birth, marriage of Krishna with Jambvanti and Satyabhama, salvation of Shishupaal, overpopulation of Yaduvanshis, birth of Kama and his discovery by Adhirath, Janamejaya dynasty and origin of Bharat, clans of the Jahnu and Pandu, clan of Parikshit and royal dynasties of the future, future generations of the Iksvaku dynasty, Brihad dynasty, Pradyot dynasty, kingdom of Nand, advent of Kali yuga and description of the royal dynasties of Kali yuga.
In the fifth part there is also found descriptions of the marriage of Vasudev and Devaki, incarnation of Lord Vishnu to kill Kansa, arrival of Yagmaya in Yashoda`s womb and of the Lord Krishna in Devaki`s womb, birth of Lord Krishna, carrying of Krishna to Gokul, dialogue of Mahamaya with Kansa, acquiring of defensive stance by Kansa, releasing of Vasudev and Devaki, killing of Putana, killing of Shakat, naming of Krishna and Balarama, humiliation of Kaliya, killing of Dhenukasura, killing of Pralamb, description of festival devoted to Indra, worshipping of Govardhana, arrival of Indra, killing of Arishtakasura, arrival of Narad in Kansa`s court, killing of Keshi, arrival of Akrur in Vrindavana, arrival of Lord Krishna in Mathura, Lord Krishna`s mercy on Kubja, arrival of Lord Krishna in coliseum and killing of Kansa.
Later in the concluding section of the fifth part of Vishnu Purana includes the coronation of Ugrasena, bringing of Sudhama in Mathura, defeat of Jarasandha, birth of Kalayavan, killing of Kaiayavan, Vrindavana tour by Balarama, attainment of Varuni by Balarama, abduction of Rukmani, abduction of Pradyumna, getting of Pradyumna by Mayavati, killing of Shambar by Pradyumna, killing of Rukmini by Balarama, attainment of 16,000 queens by Lord Krishna, abduction of Parijat, fight with Indra, begging for pardon by Indra, migration to Dwarka, bow battle, telling of dream by Usha, abduction of Aniruddha, fight with Lord Shiva, amputation of Bana by Lord Krishna, killing of Kashiraj Paundraka, putting of Varanasi on flames, abduction of Lakshmana, presentation of Samb before the sages as an expecting mother, origin of pestle, destruction of Yaduvansha, ascendance of Lord Krishna to heaven, beginning of Kali yuga, preaching of Arjun by Vyasa, coronation of Parikshit.
The sixth part deals entirely with the kali Yuga. A deviation from the path of Divinity, which lead the human beings to the way of destruction This contains description of religion in Kali yuga, description of the importance of Kali yuga, Shudra and womenfolk by Vyasa, description of Kalpa, description of a day of Brahma, position of Brahma in Pralaya, natural disasters, different kinds of sorrow, torturing in hell, awakening of Brahma, preaching of yoga, tale of Keshidhwaja, killing of the religion and the cow, holding of counsel by Khandikya, self-knowledge, ridicule of body-spiritualism, queries of yoga, Brahmagyana (Vedas), concepts of tangible-intangible appearances of God, salvation of Khandikya and Keshidhwaja, excellence of Vishnu Purana, virtues of Lord Vishnu`s names and results of hearing Lord`s name. The ultimate note of the Vishnu Purana is that the forfeiture in the feet of Lord Vishnu will lead a man to get rid of all mortal bondages and sufferings. As a result the man will attain salvation. The Vishnu Purana thereby touches the keynote of the entire Puranas.
