Description of Narad Puran

The Gist of Narad Puran

1. The First Part

The glory of Narad Puran and devotion of Lord Vishnu has been established in the first part. After that the mythological and geographical situation of India and the glory of Prayag, Kaashi, Ganga, and Gayatri have been described in detail. In the 16th chapter, the vrat on every twelfth day of the dark phase (Krishna paksh) of months from Margshirsh to Kartik have been described with the details of Vishnu mantras, worship, and method of completion.

Extremely beneficial and provider of materialistic pleasure, affluence, and emancipation after ending all the problems, the rare Haripanchak vrat has been described in the 19th chapter. This vrat is very dear to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu, becoming pleased, fulfil all the desires of the devotees who observe this vrat with reverence. After this the description of various hells along with procedure for post-funeral rites has been made as well as the benevolence from the point of view of spirituality and philosophy has been defined through the dialogue between Jadbharat and the king of Sauveer. Thereafter there is description of eighteen Purans and the respective number of verses in it.

2. The Second Part

The discourse of Maharshi Vashishtha and Mandhata rishi is narrated in this part. Vedangs have been described from the 46th to 53rd chapters of the second part. Vedang means the subject matter of Ved. Education, kalp, grammar, nirukt, astrology, and paragraph - these are the six subjects of Vedas. For the deep study of the knowledge in the Vedas, it is extremely essential to know about these vadangs. In the second part these six subjects of Vedas have been described in detail in simple and easy language.

Under 'education', the first subject of Ved, voice has been said to be the primary. Describing the seven notes, its pronunciation and method has been established. Seven voices, three gram, fifty-nine taan, and twenty-one murchhan - these collectively are called 'the spectrum of voice (swarmandaiy. In addition to the signs of swarmandal, there is description of the voices delivered from the mouth of gods, demigods (gandharvas), and different living beings.

Hawan and yajna like rituals have been described under I lie second subject of Vedas named 'kalp’. Besides this there is mention of position and speed of nakshatras, the prayer of gods, forefathers, and rishis, the method of post-funeral rites, and tarpan, and the counting of time period.

The third Vedang 'grammar' has been described in the 52nd chapter. The form of the words according to grammar and their importance etc has been established in it. After that the fourth subject of Vedang 'nirukt has been described. Having given a deep thought to the selection of words, the orthodox, compound, and combination of orthodox and compound forms have been explained in it.

Under' Astrology', mathematics that is principle, the effect of planets and nakshatras, the speed of planets, hora in relation to jatak, the nature of planets' ascendence, raj'yog, the effect of grahgochar, time, dasha-antardasha, the effect of twelve Bhawgat planets, bhaumchare tc. have been described in detail.

After that the sixth and the last Vedang that is 'paragraph (chhand)' has been described. Vedic and physical chhand and its signs have been described in this. There cannot be any progress in Ved without chhand and therefore it is called the feet of Ved. Vedas are also called chhandas because verses of the Ved cannot be recited without chhands. Gayatri, Shakwari, and Atishakwari are the signs of Vedic chhands; matrik, and varnik are the signs of physical chhand. These chhands have been described in simple language in this Puran.

Thereafter deep secrets related with mantra, its shortcomings, the correction of these shortcomings, the procedure for anointing the mantra, the prayer of Panchdev, and the autorities of Shrikanth matrika, Ganeshmatrika, Matrikanyas, and Kakamritika etc. have been described.

In the 68th chapter, mantras related with Lord Vishnu such as Astakshar and Dwadashakshar have been described along with the procedure of observance. After this there is detailed narration of the useful mantras of Lord Ram, and Devi Sita. In the 74th chapter there is mention of mantras related with the worship of Hanumanji, the Rudra incarnate and the mantras to destroy the ghosts and spirits. In it, there is also method of observing these mantras. After that there is description of methodical observance of various mantras of Shri Krishna and the sahstranamstrota of the couple of Radha and Krishna.

After that the glory of holy Ganga has been explained through the dialogue between Mohini and Vasu: Finally this Puran has been concluded with the description of the holy sites of Prayag, Kaashi, Badrikashram, Awanti, and Mathura and the glory of reading, listening, and reminiscing Narad Puran.