The Hindu scriptures Part IV Sacred & legendary literature (Puranas).

Puranas are 18 in numbers and of these Bhagavatha,Vishnu and Markandeya are known to be popular. These are tales convey the truths of the vedas and Dharma sastras in the form of stories. These imaginative stories have formed the very basis of the religious education for people and helps to teach them simple but fundamental truths of religion and morality of what is right and wrong in behaviour.These stories are narrated to children at home by elderly people. The puranas have been conveyed to successive generations by word of mouth ,by grand mothers,grand fathers to their grand children, by the village priest and by the minstrel. The walls of temples are also engraved , painted with carvings of puranas, a visual method of education people.

The power of good woman over Gods and demon was an oft repeated theme of the puranas. The stories of puranas are so strongly intertwined in our daily lives and have been told as bed time stories to children from time immemorial.

The puranic stories brings about strong family ties, by way of support,help and assistance, the care they lavish on their elders are evidence of the influence of such stories which deify filial ties. There are numerous stories in puranas that conveys religious values, ethics, right behaviour, righteous conduct, Truth etc.

The Hindus do believe that at the end of Kali yuga (dark age) there will be a Holocaust of fire and the last incarnation of Vishnu in the form of Kalki will ride forth to save the mankind and to re-establish righteousness.