254 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
As to the subject matter of the Puranas. The Purana from the oldest time is a recognised department of knowledge. For instance it was distinguished from Itihas or history. By Itihas what was understood was past occurances connected with a ruling king. By Akhyana was meant the recital of an event the occurance of which one had witnessed. By Upakhyana was meant the recital of something one has heard. Gathas meant songs about dead ancestors and about nature and universe.
Kalpashudhi [1] are ancient ways of acting regarding Shraddha and Kalpa. [2] The Purana was distinguished from all these branches of knowledge. The Purana was concerned with five subjects. (1) Sarga (2) Prati Sarga
(3) Vamsha (4) Manvantar and (5) Vamshacharitra. Sarga means creation of the universe, Pratisarga means the dissolution of the Universe. Vamsha means Geneology, Manvantar means the Ages of the different Manus, particularly the fourteen successive Manus who were the progenitors or sovereigns of the Earth. Vamshacharitra means the account of royal dynasties.
There has been a considerable addition made in the scope and subject matter of the Puranas. For the Puranas which we have are no longer confined to these subjects. In addition to these subjects they contain other subjects which fall entirely outside their prescribed scope. Indeed there has been such a change in the fundamental notion I regarding the scope of the Puranas so that some of them do not contain any treatment of the regular subjects but deal wholly with the new or extra subjects. The extra subjects include the following main topics:
(I) Smriti Dharma which include discussion of:
(1) Varnashrama-dharma, (2) Achara, (3) Ahnika, (4) Bhashyabhasya,
(5) Vivaha, (6) Asaucha, (7) Shradha (8) Dravya-Suddhi (9) Pataka,
(10) Prayaschitta, (11) Naraka, (12) Karma Vipaka and (13) Yuga Dharma.
(II) Vrata Dharma—Observance of holy vows and holy days
(III) Kshetra Dharma—Pilgrimages to holy places and
(IV) Dana Dharma—Gifts to holy persons.
In addition to this, there are two other topics the new subject matter with which one finds the Puranas to be deeply concerned.
The first of these two topics relates to sectarian worship. The Puranas are votaries of a particular deity and advocate the cause of
1 Mr. Hazara speaks of Kalpajokti (instead of Kalpashudhi) which means lore that has come down through ages—see chronology of Puranas p. 4.
2 The word Kalpa is used in various senses. (1) Practicable. (2) Proper (3) Able, Competent. The word Kalpa is else used in various senses (1) A Sacred rule (2) A prescribed alternative
(3) Made of performing religious rites (4) End of the world, Universal destruction. (5) A day of the Brahma Yuga (6) Medical treatment of the sick and (7) One of the six Vedangas: that which lays down the ritual and prescribes rules for ceremonies and sacrificial acts.