Mahabharata is one of the factors that contributed to the growth of `Hindu` culture in India. It is being said that the Mahabharat along with Ramayana exert remarkable cultural influence throughout the Indian peninsula. This timeless creation by Sage Veda Vyasa is divided into eighteen books or chapters which came to be called as the 18 Parvas of Mahabharat.

Adi Parva is the first book in this longest epic. It is considered to be the `Book of the Beginning.` This book deals with the initiation of the Great Indian epic. In this Parva, it was mentioned how the Mahabharata came to be narrated by Sauti who was assembled by rishis at Naimisharanya. Moreover, the recital of the Mahabharata at the Sarpasatra of Janamejaya by Vaisampayana at Taksashila has also gained enough importance.

In the Adi Parva, the history of the Bharata race is described in detail. Further this parvas trace the history of the Bhrigu race. In this `Book of Beginning`, the birth and early life of the Kuru princes is portrayed too. The book first describes in detail about the ancestors of the great brothers The Adi Parva, among the 18 Parvas of Mahabharat consists of first nineteen sub-parvas out of hundred. The sub-parvas belonging to the Adi Parva in chronological order are Paushya Parva, Pauloma Parva, Astika Parva, Adivansavatarana Parva, Sambhava Parva, Jatugriha Parva, Hidimva-vadha Parva, Vaka-vadha Parva, Chaitraratha Parva, Swayamvara Parva, Vaivahika Parva, Viduragamana Parva, Rajya-labha Parva, Arjuna-vanavasa Parva, Subhadra-harana Parva, Haranaharana Parva and Khandava-daha Parva.

Adi Parva starts with the introduction of Ugrasrava, the son of Lomaharshana, surnamed Sauti. Sauti was well-versed in the Puranas and once he approached the great sages of rigid vows in the forest of Naimisha. Having been entertained with due respect by those holy men, he started to recite the ascetics narrations. At his description he recollected his assemblage of contemplative Munis. It is also mentioned in the Adi parva that the sacred and wonderful stories of Mahabharata were recited in full by Vaisampayana at the Snake-sacrifice of the royal sage Janamejaya.