sinvdk]s'lNTitle Thumbnail & Hero Image: Viṣṇu reclining on the serpent Shesha (Ananta Shesha) in Cosmic Ocean Lintel, a sandstone, Lopburi art (Khom art in the territory of Thailand), carved around the 11-12th century A.D.(800 years ago), originally located at Prang Ku Suan Taeng, Subdistrict. Nong Waeng, Phutthaisong District, Buriram Province. It was stolen by a criminal on April 15, 1964, and smuggled to the United States for sale. Mr. Avelry Rander later returned it to the Fine Arts Department on July 25, 1970. It is currently enshrined at the National Museum of Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand, taken on November 14, 2021.
Viṣṇu Purāṇa 1
First revision: May 30, 2024
Last change: Mar.7, 2026
Searched, gathered, rearranged, translated, and compiled by Apirak Kanchanakongkha.
1
xiii
Introduction
1.
The word "Purāṇa" (पुराण) means old or ancient. The Purāṇas are ancient scriptures, often grouped with the Itihāsa01 (Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata).1. Whether the Itihāsa originally referred only to the Mahābhārata, with the Rāmāyaṇa added to that version later, is a subject of some debate. But that's not our purpose at all. In the Chāndogya Upaniṣad (छान्दोग्योपनिषद्), it is mentioned that the Sage Ṛṣi Nārada (see details in the explanatory note on page 1 of 01. Bālakāṇḍa, Rāmāyaṇa) visit Sanātkumāra02. To teach. When the sage inquired, he learned that Sanātkumāra already knew. Sage Ṛṣi Nārada said that he knew of the Itihāsa and Purāṇa, the fifth Vedas.2 In other words, the Itihāsa and Purāṇa have a high status.
---------------
1. For example, ślokas (verses) 2.4.10, 4.1.2, and 4.5.11 of the Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad (बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्) use both versions together.
Notes and Narratives:
01. Itihāsa (इतिहास) - "History" or "the traditional narrative of past events" can also mean "thus it happened."
The four Kumāras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, & Sanātkumāra), source: gloria.org, accessed May 30, 2024.1.
02. Sanātkumāra (सनत्कुमार - eternal youth) - One of the Four Young Masters {Sanaka (सनक), Sanandana (सनन्दन), Sanātana (सनातन), and Sanātkumāra (सनत्कुमार)}, the four wise young masters according to the Purāṇas. All four are sons born from the mind of Brahma, or the spiritual sons of Brahma. The four young masters vowed to remain celibate for life and studied the Vedas together. All four young masters play important roles in the worship of Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa. And it appears in the Mahābhārata, in the Udyōga Parva, Upaparva: Sanatsujāta (सनत्सुजात).
Lord Viṣṇu, developed on Jul.16, 2024 & adjusted on Apr.28, 2025
1
1.
The Brahmin is composing the Manu Smṛti—source: templepurohit.com, accessed December 27, 2025.2.
3.
