PREFACE
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Mahārāṣṭra, the Haridasas of Karnāṭaka and others; and
to the eminent classical poets like Bhasa, Kalidasa, Bhava-
bhūti and others. The Purāṇas fully represent the culture,
imagery and intuition of the Indian mind.
The Puranic authors have always believed in the
multiplicity or plurality of Gods, and preached the mani-
festation of the Divine in all the aspects of the Universe.
Eventually, they show a clearly polytheistic trend in this
respect the unique outcome of which is their Stotra
literature.
The Purâņas convey the ideals of the Hindu mind. While
condemning a miser, they also condemn the sentiment of
vanity possessed by the rich. While condemning the world
of womenfolk for their crooked nature and cunning, they
have also laid bare before us their true value as Goddesses
on earth and builders of society. While recommending the
study of Vedānta and the practice of Yogic exercises, they
have also idealised the more simple and nobler ideals of a
householder's life. Above all they are meant for both the
rich and the poor, and the innocent and the wiser folk of
the nation. We find in them an address made to humanity
from a common platform. In fact their main ideal is to
create a heaven on earth rather than a heaven after death.
During the last seventeen years of my study in the
field of Puranic research, I also tried to cull out all that is
best, fine and elegant in the Purāņas, I mean the Puranic
Verse and Psalms. I have divided the whole sphere of
Puranic anthology into four categories: Subhäşitas, Pure
Poetry, Stotras (Psalms), and Devotional Literature. The
Puranic authors have so wonderfully made a direct appeal
to the human mind of all ages and climes, that the readers
irrespective of their caste, creed, sex or community shall
find them all of absorbing interest.