Itihasa

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Itihasa & Puranas

The great epics and ancient histories of Bhāratīya civilisation — timeless stories encoding dharma, ethics, and the human experience.

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Ramayana

By Maharishi Valmiki

The epic narrative of Lord Rama — an exemplar of dharma, duty, and devotion. Spanning 24,000 verses in seven Kandas, the Ramayana teaches the ideals of righteous kingship, familial love, and the triumph of good over evil.

Key Sections

  • Bala Kanda — Birth and early life of Rama
  • Ayodhya Kanda — Exile and renunciation
  • Aranya Kanda — Life in the forest
  • Kishkindha Kanda — Alliance with Sugriva
  • Sundara Kanda — Hanuman's valor
  • Yuddha Kanda — The great war with Ravana
  • Uttara Kanda — Rama's reign as king
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Mahabharata

By Vyasa

The world's longest epic poem with over 100,000 verses, the Mahabharata is a vast narrative encompassing dharma, politics, philosophy, and human nature. It contains the Bhagavad Gita — the Song of God.

Key Sections

  • The rivalry of the Kauravas and Pandavas
  • Bhagavad Gita — Krishna's discourse to Arjuna
  • Stri Parva — Lament and lessons of war
  • Shanti Parva — Bhishma's teachings on governance
  • The game of dice and Draupadi's humiliation
  • The great Kurukshetra War

The 18 Maha Puranas

Ancient encyclopaedic texts covering cosmology, genealogy, dharma, and devotion — categorised by the three Gunas.

Vishnu Purana

Vishnu · Sattva

Bhagavata Purana

Krishna · Sattva

Shiva Purana

Shiva · Tamas

Garuda Purana

Vishnu · Sattva

Brahmanda Purana

Brahma · Rajas

Markandeya Purana

Devi · Rajas

Matsya Purana

Vishnu · Tamas

Agni Purana

Agni · Rajas

Padma Purana

Vishnu · Sattva

Vayu Purana

Shiva · Tamas

Skanda Purana

Kartikeya · Tamas

Narada Purana

Vishnu · Sattva

Linga Purana

Shiva · Tamas

Kurma Purana

Vishnu · Tamas

Brahma Purana

Brahma · Rajas

Vamana Purana

Vishnu · Rajas

Varaha Purana

Vishnu · Rajas

Brahmavaivarta Purana

Krishna · Rajas