Brahma Purana 1: English Translation only without Slokas

Book excerpt: Brahma Purana is one of the most fundamental Puranas and covers all the 5 elements that a Purana was meant to have: Sarga (Creation), Prati Sarga (Creation merging back into the Paramatma), Vamsas (Generations of Rishis and Devas), Manvantaras (Narrations of great kings including those of Surya Vamsa and Chandra Vamsa). Brahma Purana proposes Bhagwan Vishnu as the Ultimate Parabrahma It contains about 246 5 chapters and has a supplemental text known as Gautami Mahatmya that describes the glory of the river Godavari in detail. The glory of Purushottama Kshetra (Puri Jagannath temple) is explained in detail. 11 chapters are dedicated to Yoga (as in meditation; not physical exercises). Structure of Brahma Purana * Chapters 1: 4: General lineage of Devas * Chapters 5: 7 Solar dynasty / Surya Vamsha * Chapters 6: 15: Lunar dynasty / Chandra Vamsha * Chapters 16: 22: Geography, Solar system, Syamantaka Mani (Gem) * Chapters 23: 31: Gloark of Konaditya (Konark) and the Surya Deva including 108 names of Surya * Chapters 32: 38: Parvati's tapas. Marriage of Parvati & Siva, Daksha Yagnya * Chapters 39: 44: Glory of several holy sites including Ekamra, Utkala, Avanti * Chapters 45: 54: History of Markandeya and his vision of the Pralaya (The Great Flood) * Chapters 55: 102: Sri Krishna Avatara * Chapters 103: 126: Description of Hells, Punya, Papa, Sraddha Rituals, Dharma and Virtue * Chapters: 127: 138: Samkhya, Yoga (as in meditation; not physical exercises) and the dialogue between Vasishta & Janaka This book contains chapters 1: 138 and excludes Gautami Mahatmya (which is published as a second part)