Purana

[ poo-rah-nuh ]

/ pʊˈrɑ nə /

noun

any of 18 collections of Hindu legends and religious instructions.

Origin of Purana

1690–1700; < Sanskrit: of old

Related formsPu·ra·nic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for purana

Two such periods of instability have left their records in the sediments of the Purana sea.
The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays|J. (John) Joly
Including these this Purana makes 60 kings between Manu and Daçaratha.
The History of Antiquity, Volume IV (of 6)|Max Duncker
But the author of the Purana denies that this was done in anger.
Ten Great Religions|James Freeman Clarke
"The light of the day takes refuge in their bosoms," as the Purana says of the ocean.
Excursions and Poems|Henry David Thoreau

At this point, the Purana embarks on an episode which, at first sight, appears to have very little to do with its main subject.
The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry|W. G. Archer

British Dictionary definitions for purana

Purana

/ (pʊˈrɑːnə) /

noun

any of a class of Sanskrit writings not included in the Vedas, characteristically recounting the birth and deeds of Hindu gods and the creation, destruction, or recreation of the universe

Derived FormsPuranic, adjective

Word Origin for Purana

C17: from Sanskrit: ancient, from purā formerly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for purana

Purana

ancient Sanskrit writings of a legendary character, 1690s, from Sanskrit puranah, literally "ancient, former," from pura "formerly, before," cognate with Greek paros "before," pro "before," Avestan paro "before," Old English fore, from PIE *pre-, from root *per- (1) "forward, through" (see per). Related: Puranic.