Brahma Purana

The Brahma Purana is traditionally considered the first of the eighteen Mahapuranas. Also known as the Adi Purana, it is attributed to the sage Vyasa and narrated by Brahma himself. The text contains approximately 13,000 verses organized in 245 chapters. The Purana covers a wide range of topics including cosmology, genealogy of gods and sages, geography of the world with focus on Odisha (Purushottama Kshetra/Jagannath Puri), dharma, yoga, and liberation. It contains significant sections on the pilgrimage sites of India, particularly the temples of Konark and Puri.

As the first Mahapurana, the Brahma Purana holds a foundational position in Puranic literature. It provides one of the earliest detailed descriptions of the Jagannath temple at Puri and its rituals, making it invaluable for understanding Odia religious culture. The text synthesizes Vaishnavite, Shaivite, and Shakta traditions.

The text covers creation narratives, solar and lunar dynasties, geography of Bharatavarsha with emphasis on pilgrimage sites, detailed descriptions of Purushottama Kshetra (Puri), rituals and festivals, duties of various varnas and ashramas, and paths to liberation through knowledge, devotion, and action.