When was the Bhagavata Purana composed?
Modern scholars place the composition of the Bhagavata Purana between 500 CE and 1030 CE. A version of this text must have existed by 1030 CE when it was mentioned by al Biruni and quoted by Abhinavagupta.
Questions about Bhagavata Purana
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where did the Bhagavata Purana originate?
Researchers like Sheridan point toward South India as the likely birthplace of these writings. They cite references to Alvar saints and emotional devotion to Krishna as key indicators of southern origins.
How many books does the Bhagavata Purana contain?
The Bhagavata Purana consists of twelve books called skandhas containing 335 chapters totaling approximately eighteen thousand verses. These interconnected dialogues weave together cosmology genealogy geography legend music dance yoga culture and theology without following a strictly linear timeline.
What is the tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana about?
The tenth book contains roughly four thousand verses making it the largest canto yet most popular section studied globally today. It details divine play lila of Krishna including imprisonment parents Vasudeva Anakadundubhi Devaki murder siblings attempted baby killing King Kamsa fostering Nanda Yashoda cowherd tribe attempts life boyhood demons Putana Trnavarta Aghasura Pralamba Kesi chastisement Kaliya swallowing forest fire lifting Govardhana Hill stealing Gopis clothes Rasa dance Raas Leela described thoroughly great detail defeat demonic foes Jarasandha Kalayavana Narakasura Paundraka marriages over sixteen thousand wives children Dvaraka establishment Syamantaka Jewel washing Naradas feet Banasura Shiva daily activities Sudama blessing devotees saving Shiva Vrkasura summary glories.
Who wrote commentaries on the Bhagavata Purana in the fifteenth century?
Śrīdhara Svāmī wrote Bhāvārtha-dīpikā fifteenth century exerting extraordinary influence later generations Vaiśnava traditions generally Caitanya Vaiśnava commentaries Sanātana Gosvāmi Jīva Gosvāmī Viśvanātha Cakravartī follow suit. Lakshmidhar composed Amrita-tarangini same period while Madhusudana Sarasvatī penned commentary first verse alone.
When did A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami publish his translation of the Bhagavata Purana?
A.C. Bhaktvedanta Swami devoted translating work into English between 1962 and 1965 departing earlier works focusing solely life teachings Chaitanya himself lacking formal traditional education deeply familiar ancient commentators insights self-study made meaningful modern readers easier understand relevant world appeal youth looking something different than established religions founded International Society Krishna Consciousness ISKCON by him 1966 tracing disciplic lineages directly back to Chaitanya who appeared hidden avatar Kali Yuga Iron Age quarrel showing easiest way achieve consciousness Krishna.