New Delhi, Nov 28: "Puranas", the ancient Hindu scriptures can come to rescue and provide complete enlightenment in situations of crisis in today's stress-laden life, says a new book.
Not only this, in fact, the Puranas have rendered the greatest service in effecting the racial and religious unification of the diverse people of India says "An Introduction to Puranas" by Raj Kumar Pruthi, a researcher.
He says that modern sociologists claim that if the Hindu society has not been swept off its feet by incessant invasions, the impact of semitic religions and internal upheavals through the ages, it is due to the Puranas. The scriptures have not only prevented the society from disintegrating but have strengthened it by imparting to it a tenacious resilience rarely seen in human history. This has been achieved not by adopting a tough and dogmatic approach but by making various internal adjustments, keeping the core of the religion intact, the book says.
Etymologically the term "Purana" means 'that which lives from ancient times'. The Puranas in the form of legendary lore existed even prior to the revelation of the Vedas, the author says.The scriptures, rescued from unmerited oblivion, came to be considered as worthy of credence when corroborated by independent evidence. It was not, however, till the early decades of the 20th century that the patient and sustained research of FE Pargiter, an ICS officer and former Vice President of Asiatic Society, London in the early decades of 20th century placed before the world a critical survey of the historical material of the Purana, it says.
Bureau Report
