Puranas Book Review

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REL 108 11 November 2010 Puranas Purana means more than just ‘myth;’ it encompasses Hindu values, sermons, and prayers that are still evident in Hindu culture. The social values seen in these stories are predominantly brahmanic in which Brahmans are the privileged upper class in an orderly view of a caste society. The Puranas emphasize dharma because one should value their life on earth rather than their release from it. Therefore, one should live according to their own dharma, a constant concept displayed in the following stories. Krsna as a baby plays tricks and is deceitful but only for the benefit of his people. Even as a young child, Krsna can detect evil. In the story, Putana, the Child-Killer, cosmic destiny can be seen through the idea of moksa, in that by completely absorbing oneself into Krsna, one will be released. Putana thinks she can destroy Krsna, but she is outsmarted when Krsna sucks out all of her milk, along with her life. This myth shows that by completely absorbing oneself into Krsna, a connection is made between man and the divine. Even as a baby, Krsna is seen embracing his cosmic destiny with a great deal of divine power. It is unheard of for a baby to embody such strength, but only by becoming one with Krsna can one obtain this power. This will allow one to live a life of good, instead of evil, which in turn will lead one to fulfilling his or her dharma. By fulfilling dharma, one can only strive towards liberation, the ultimate goal. Another value depicted in the Puranas is bhakti, devotion or expressing love. Krsna is often seen as a symbol of devotional love especially in the story, The Rasalila Dance. In the myth, Krsna lures the women to him with his music. One woman, however, stayed at home purely thinking about Krsna “while all her sins were absorbed in the great sorrow of not obtaining him,” (125). Krsna
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