Vishnu Purana. This Purana is a beautiful amalgamation of Bhakti, Philosophy, the laws of the universe and the Leela’s of the supreme controller of all, Bhagavan Shri Vishnu. I personally have the opinion that it is the best of all Maha Purana’s. A Purana completely Sattva by nature.
What is special about the Vishnu Purana?
Of all the Maha Purana’s, the most preserved Maha Purana which satisfies the definition of a true Purana is the Vishnu Purana. We can look into various studies which call this Purana as the most authentic among all Purana’s.
The Classical Age (Historian - RC Majumdar)- RC Majumdar, the great historian and editor himself has said in his study that the Vishnu Purana is the best of all Purana’s
Studies in Puranic records of Hindu Rites and Customs (By Historian - RC Hazra) calls the Vishnu Purana as the best of the Puranas and possesses the character of the ancient unsectarian Puranas while also glorifying Bhagavan Vishnu alone as supreme.
The Purana text of the Dynasties of the Kali Yuga (By FE Pargiter) - The perfection of Sankrit grammar in the Vishnu Purana
Geographical Accuracy of the Vishnu Purana.
Vishnu Purana also stands as one of the most ancient and accurate scriptures descibing the features of Bharata Varsha.
Vishnu Purana Amsha 2 Chapter 3
THE country that lies north of the ocean, and south of the snowy mountains, is called Bhārata, for there dwelt the descendants of Bharata. It is nine thousand leagues in extent[1], and is the land of works, in consequence of which men go to heaven, or obtain emancipation.
It also describes the various rivers and their source accurately
The Śatadru, Candrabhāgā, and other rivers, flow from the foot of Himālaya: the Vedasmriti and others from the Parīpātra mountains: the Narmadā and Surasā from the Vindhya hills: the Tāpī, Payoṣṇī, and Nirvindhyā from the Rikṣa mountains; the Godāverī, Bhimarathī, Kṛṣṇavenī, and others, from the Sahya mountains: the Kritamālā, Tāmraparṇī, and others, from the Malaya hills: the Trisāmā, Ṛṣikulyā, &c. from the Mahendra: and the Ṛṣikulyā, Kumārī, and others, from the Śuktimat mountains. Of such as these, and of minor rivers, there is an infinite number; and many nations inhabit the countries on their borders
Exact geographical location of states for example explicitly stating Saurashtra in the West. Saurashtra is modern day Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra.
The principal nations of Bhārata are the Kurus and Pāñcālas, in the middle districts: the people of Kāmarupa, in the east: the Puṇḍras, Kaliṅgas, Magadhas, and southern nations, are in the south: in the extreme west are the Saurāṣṭras, Śūras, Bhīras, Arbudas: the Kāruṣas and Mālavas, dwelling along the Pāripātra mountains: the Sauvīras, the Saindhavas, the Hūnas, the Sālvas, the people of Śākala, the Madras, the Rāmas, the Ambaṣṭhas, and the Pārasīkas, and others. These nations drink of the water of the rivers above enumerated, and inhabit their borders, happy and prosperous[6].
Researchers have found considerable agreement with the locations mentioned in the Vishnu Purana
From a moralistic perspective - The Best Purana
Some Purana’s have been notorious in making statements which are downright absurd. For example the Shiva Purana is consistent in making statements to demean the position of women. From allowing Domestic violence to judging character of women in words that cant be described over here. The glory of women as shown in the epic Vedas and the stunning Itihasa (Ramayana and Mahabharata) is upheld completely in this Purana.
Vishnu Purana Amsha 5 Chapter 23 Greatest example for upliftment of women was done by Bhagavan Shri Krishna himself. He created Dwaraka Nagari which even women defended. This showed that a female military force also existed at that point of time.
He resolved therefore to construct a citadel for the Yadu tribe, that should not be easily taken; one 'that even women might defend, and in which therefore the heroes of the house of Vrisni should be secure; one in which the male combatants of the Yadavas should dread no peril, though he himself should be drunk or careless, asleep or abroad, 'thus reflecting, Krsna solicited a space of twelve furlongs from the ocean, and there he built the city of Dwaraka3, defended by high ramparts, and beautified with gardens and reservoirs of water, crowded with houses and buildings, and splendid as the capital of Indra, Amaravati. Thither Janarddana conducted the inhabitants of Mathura, and then awaited at that city the approach ofKalayavana
Vishnu Purana Book 5 Chapter 31 Mata Satyabhama’s strong words on femininity. Unlike the Shiva Purana where women are just servants of their husbands, The Vishnu Purana states that women are the light of purpose for their husbands.
As a woman, I am light of purpose, and am anxious for my husband's fame; therefore have I instigated, Sakra, this contest with you. But I do not want the Parijata tree, nor do I wish to take that which is another's property. Sachl is proud of her beauty. What woman is not proud ofher husband ?
Vishnu Purana Amsha One chapter 8 Complete equality of Shri (Lakshmi) and Hari (Narayana).
The god is one with all male— the goddess one with all female, rivers. The lotus-eyed deity is the standard; the goddess seated on a lotus the banner. LaksmI is cupidity; Narayana, the master of the world, is covetousness, Oh you who know what rigteousners is, Govinda is love; and LaksmI, his gentle spouse, is pleasure. But why thus diffusely enumerate their presence?—it is enough to-say, in a word, that of gods, animals, and men. Hari is all that is called male; LaksmI is all that is termed female: there is nothing else than they.
Vishnu Purana Amsha 3 Chapter 8 Keshava is utmost pleased with those who bear no lust for other women meaning looks at other’s wives as one’s own mother.
Kesava is most pleased with him who does good to others' who never utters abuse, calumny or untruth; who never covets another's wife or another's wealth and who bears ill-will towards none; who neither beats nor slays any animate or inanimate thing; who is ever diligent in the service of the gods, of the Brahmanas and of his spiritual preceptor; who is always desirous of the welfare of all creatures, of his children and of his own soul; in whose pure heart no pleasure is derived from the imperfections of love and hatred.
Vishnu Purana Amsha 3 Chapter 11 strongly warns a man against adultery
Let him not think incontinently of another's wife, much less address her to that end; for such a man will be born in future life as a creeping insect. He who commits adultery is punished both here and hereafter; for his days in this world are cut short and when dead he falls into hell.
Vishnu Purana Amsha 2 Chapter 6 The severity of wronging women is mentioned in this Purana. Those who wrong women, who sell their wife, who commit incest are all thrown into a Taptamukha Naraka (The hell with hot iron rods)
The man who bear false witness through partiality, or who utters any falsehood, is condemned to the Raurava (dreadful) hell. He who causes abortion, plunders a town, kills a cow, or strangles a man, goes to the Rodha hell (or that of obstruciion). The murderer of a Brahmana, stealer of gold, or drinker of wine, goes to the Sukara (swine) hell; as does any one who associates with them. The murderer of a man of the second or third caste, and one who is guilty of adultery with the wife of his spiritual teacher, is sentenced to the Tala (padlock) hell: and one who holds incestuous intercourse with a sister, or murders an ambassador, to Taptakumbha (or the hell of heated caldrons). The seller of his wife, a gaoler, a horsedealer, and one who deserts his adherents, falls into the Taptaloha (red-hot iron) hell. He who commits incest with a daughter-in-law or a daughter is cast into the Mahajvala hell (or that of great flame): and he who is disrespeccful to his spiritual guide, who is abusive to his betters, who reviles the Vedas, or who sells them, who associates with women in a prohibited degree, into the Lavana (salt) hell.
Vishnu Purana Amsha 5 Chapter 7
Yet hear us. Women are to be regarded with pity by the virtuous: animals are humanely treated even by fools. Let therefore the author of wisdom have compassion upon this poor creature.
Vishnu Purana Amsha 3 Chapter 12 encourages men to be respectful to their wives and be patient with them.
"Let not a man treat women with disrespect, nor let him put entire faith in them. Let him not deal impatiently with them, nor set them over matters of importance. A man who is attentive to the duties of his station will not go forth from his house without saluting the chaplets, flowers, gems, clarified butter and venerable persons in it
Vishnu Purana Amsha 4 Chapter 24 while describing Kaliyuga it has mentioned that in the Kali age women would be used only for lust something this Purana was very much against.
Wealth and piety will decrease day by day, until the world will be wholly depraved. Then property alone will confer rank; wealth will be the only source of devotion; passion will be the sole bond of union between the sexes; falsehood will be the only means of success in litigation; and women will be objects merely of sensual gratification. Earth will be venerated but for its mineral treasures;77 the Brahmanical thread will constitute a Brahmana; external types (as the staff and red garb) will be the only distinctions of the several orders of life; dishonesty will be the universal means of subsistence; weakness will be the cause of dependence; menace and presumption will be substituted for learning; liberality will be devotion;
Vishnu Purana Amsha 5 Chapter 31 For the upliftment of the women captured by Narakasur, Shri Krishna married them so that they can get the status of queen in dwarka. for each of them a seperate mansion was built where they alone ruled and in each mansion Krishna multiplied his form so that each wife can have Krishna as her husband.
Then Krsna took possession of the wealth, elephants, horses, and women, which he had recovered from Naraka, and which had been brought to Dvaraka by the servants of the demon; and at an auspicious season he espoused all the maidens whom Naraka had carried off from their friends; at one and the same moment he received the hands of all of them, according to the ritual, in separate mansions. Sixteen thousand and one hundred was the number of the maidens, and into so many different forms did the foe of Madhu multiply himself; so that every one of the damsels thought that he had wedded her in his single person; and the creator of the world, Hari, the assumer of universal shape, abode severally in the dwelling of each ofthese his wives.
Simple eulogistic prayers to Bhagavan Vishnu without disrespect to other deities.
The unbiased nature of a purana shows its credibility. Vishnu Purana is so beautiful that it never demeans any other deity. It just worships Shri Vishnu as everything. Unlike Shaiva Puranas, Shri Vishnu purana doesnt find the need of suppressing forms of Shiva to show itself as great. There are no freaky stories about Lingodbhava and how two gods were fighting as if they lost their minds and Shiva comes as a pillar. Nothing like that. In fact it gives due respect to Shiva.
As quoted by Historian RC Hazra above the whole Purana worships Shri Vishnu while being unbiased to other deities. Its unsectarian while glorifying Shri Vishnu alone.
Simple examples of such eulogies include
Vishnu Purana Book One Chapter 2 Janardana Maha Vishnu is the supreme lord who manifests as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.
Thus the one only god, Janarddana, takes the designation of Brahma, Visnu, and Siva, accordingly as he creates, preserves, or destroys.32 Visnu as creator, creates himself; as preserver, preserves himself; as destroyer, destroys himself at the end of all things. This world of earth, air, fire, water, ether, the senses, and the mind; all that is termed spirit,33 that also is the lord of all elements, the univer¬ sal from, and impreishable: hence he is the cause of creation, preservation, and destruction; and the subject of the vicissitudes inherent in elementary nature.34 He is the object and author of creation: he preserves, destroys, and is preserved. He, Visnu, as Brahma, and as all other beings, is infinite form: he is the supreme, the giver of all good, the fountain of all happiness
Vishnu Purana Amsha one Chapter 9 - Supreme Glory of Maha Vishnu by Brahma deva.
The infinite nature of Visnu is pure, intelligent, perpetual, unborn, undecayable, inexhaustible, inscrutable, immutable; it is neither gross nor subtile, nor capable of being defined: to that ever holy nature of Visnu I bow To him whose faculty to create the universe abides in but a part of but the ten-millionth part of him; to him who is one with the inexhaustible supreme spirit, I bow: and to the glorious nature of the supreme Visnu, which nor gods, nor sages, nor I, nor Sankara apprehend; that nature which the Yogis, after incessant effort, effacing both moral merit and demerit, behold to be contemplated in the mystical monosyllable Om: the supreme glory of Visnu, who is the first of all; of whom, one only god, the triple energy is the same with Brahma, Visnu, and Siva: oh lord of all, great soul of all, asylum of all, undecayable, have pity upon your servants; oh Visnu, he manifest to us
Vishnu Purana Book One Chapter Fifteen
On which Soma repeated as follows: “Visnu is beyond the boundary of all things: he is the infinite: he is beyond that which is boundless: he is above all that is above: he exists as finite truth: he is the object of the Veda; the limit of elemental being; unappreciable by the senses; possessed of illimitable might: he is the cause of cause; the cause of the cause of cause; the cause of finite cause, and in effects, he both as every object and agent, preserves the universe: he is Brahma the lord; Brahma all beings; Brahma the progenitor of all beings; the imperishable: he is the eternal, undecaying, unborn Brahma, incapable of increases or diminution: Purusottama is the everlasting, uncreated, immutable Brahma. May the imperfections of my nature be annihilated through his favour.’
and many more of such beautiful stuti’s just glorifying Shri Vishnu and basking in his grace without any insult to any other deity. No demeanment of Shiva. In fact Shri Krishna even mentions Hari Hara Abheda once
Vishnu Purana Amsha 5 Chapter 33
When he had concluded, Govinda, dismissing his resentment against the Asura, looked graciously on the lord of Umā, the wielder of the trident, and said to him, “Since you, Śaṅkara, have given a boon unto Bāṇa, let him live: from respect to your promises, my discus is arrested: the assurance of safety granted by you is granted also by me. You are fit to apprehend that you are not distinct from me. That which I am, thou art; and that also is this world, with its gods, demons, and mankind. Men contemplate distinctions, because they are stupified by ignorance.
It basically considers Shiva a form of Shri Keshava born from the Shri Sankarshana expansion of Bhagavan Shri Vasudeva. Deliberate attempts to demean Bhagavan Shri Vishnu are made in Shaiva scriptures by purposely showing death of Vishnu Avatara’s at the hands of Shiva. Such stories are completely Avedic and should be looked at as fake.
There is no wonder that this beautiful Purana has been quoted by Acharya’s like Adi Shankaracharya and has entire commentaries in the Shri Vaishnava Sampradaya. It is the purest Purana. Sattvata is emitted from it.
Mahalakshmi Namustute🙏🏼🪔🪷
Namo Narayana 🙏🏼🪔🪷
