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{{Short description|Sanskrit scripture, One of major eighteen Puranas}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox religious text
| image = File:Brahmavaivarta Purana.jpg
| caption = A manuscript of the Brahma Vaivarta Purana
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| language = [[Sanskrit]]
| verses = 18,000
| chapters = 276
| volumes = 4
|author=[[Vyasa]]}}
{{Hindu scriptures}}
The '''''Brahmavaivarta Purana''''' ({{langx|sa|ब्रह्मवैवर्त पुराण}}; {{IAST|Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa}}) is a voluminous [[Sanskrit]] text and one of the major [[Puranas]] (''Maha-purana'') of [[Hinduism]].{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=83}} It is an important [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] text. This Purana majorly centers around the Hindu deities [[Radha]] and [[Krishna]].{{sfn|Rocher|1986|p=163}}{{sfn|Hazra|1987|p=166}}{{sfn|Monier-Williams|1992|p=740|loc=entry on ''[https://andhrabharati.com/dictionary/sanskrit/index.php?w=%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4 Brahmavaivarta]''}}

Although a version may have existed in late 1st millennium CE, its extant version was likely composed in the [[Bengal]] region of Indian subcontinent in 15th-16th century.{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=83}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=163}}{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|p=166}} Later, it was likely revised somewhere in South India.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=163}} Numerous versions of this Purana exist and are claimed to be the part of manuscripts of the ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' or the ''Brahmakaivarta Purana''.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=161, 163-164}}

The text is notable for identifying [[Krishna]] as the supreme reality and asserting that all gods such as [[Vishnu]], [[Shiva]], [[Brahma]], [[Ganesha]] are one and the same and in fact, all are the incarnations of Krishna.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=161, 163}} Goddesses like [[Radha]], [[Durga]], [[Lakshmi]], [[Saraswati]] and [[Gayatri|Savitri]] are asserted to be equivalent and are mentioned as the incarnations of [[Nature|Prakruti]] in this text, with legends similar to those found in the [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]] and the [[Devi Mahatmya]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=161-162}} The text is also notable for glorifying the feminine aspect of god through [[Radha]] and its egalitarian views that all women are manifestations of the divine female, co-creators of the universe, and that any insult to a woman is an insult to goddess Radha.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=163}}{{Sfn|Gietz|1992|pp=248-249|ps=, with note 1351}}

The mythology and stories of ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'', along with [[Bhagavata Purana]], have been influential to the Krishna-related Hindu traditions, as well as to dance and performance arts such as the [[Rasa Lila]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=161-163}}{{Sfn|Kinsley|1979|pp=112-117}}{{sfn|Richmond|Swann|Zarrilli|1993|pages=177–181}}

In this Purāna, Radha (or Rādhikā), who is inseparable from Krishna, appears as the main goddess. She is the personification of the [[Prakṛti|mūlaprakriti]], the "root nature", that original seed from which all material forms evolved. In the company of the [[Purusha]] ("Man", "Spirit", "Universal soul") Krishna, she is said to inhabit the [[Goloka]], which is a world of cows and cowherds far above the [[Vishnu]]'s [[Vaikuntha]]. In this divine world, Krishna and Radha relate to one another in the way body relates to soul. (4.6.216){{sfn|Dimitrova|Oranskaia|2018}}

== History ==
[[File:Rasa Lila in Manipuri dance style.jpg|thumb|The ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'', along with [[Bhagavata Purana]], have influenced performance arts and cultural celebrations in India, such as with ''Rasa Lila'' in [[Manipur]] above.]]
This text is mostly legends, worship, mythology and drama during the life of Radha and Krishna, with discussion of ethics, dharma, four stages of life and festivals embedded as part of the plot.{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|pp=83-84}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=162-163}}{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}} The specific details in this Purana show the influence or knowledge of events traced to mid 2nd-millennium CE developments associated with [[Tantra]] and [[Bhakti]] saints such as [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|Chaitanya]] and others.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=162-164}} This text is unlike the encyclopedic style found in almost all other major Puranas, and for these reasons, predominant portions of this Purana are likely to be a 15th or 16th century composition.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=162-164}}

The text very likely existed much earlier, and the older version likely was complete in the 8th to 10th century period.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=162-164}}{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}} A version probably existed by 700 CE, adds Hazra.{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|p=167}} However, in its history, this Hindu text also underwent major revisions, over the centuries.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=162-164}}{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}} This text was likely revised in the Bengal region of South Asia.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=162-164}} Another related text, called ''Brahmakaivarta Purana'', also relatively modern but traced to South India, exists in many versions.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=162-164}} There are a few manuscripts titled ''Adi brahmavaivarta purana'', of unclear date of composition, proposed as the older possibly original Purana, but these are very different from the ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' text generally considered one of the 18 Mahapuranas.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=164|ps=, with footnote 162}}

The older version of the ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' was once influential in its own way, because Nibandha authors of 15th and 16th century quoted nearly 1,500 lines in texts such as the ''Smriti Candrika'', which they claimed is in this Purana.{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}} However, only 30 of these lines are found in the extant manuscripts of ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' suggesting massive rewrite of the original Purana over its history, in or after the 15th or 16th century.{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}}

The text includes [[Smriti]] chapters that, states Hazra, were likely inserted into the text after the 16th century.{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}} This modern content includes chapters on "mixed castes, duties of women, duties of varna, duties of individuals during their ''[[Ashrama (stage)|ashrama]]'' (stages of life), worship and glorification of Brahmins, theory of hell in after-life, and religious gift giving for merit".{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}} The only Smriti chapters in currently surviving manuscripts, that can be found in older versions of this text are two, namely 4.8 and 4.26.{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}} These relate to ''[[vrata]]''.{{Sfn|Hazra|1987|pp=166-167}}{{efn|A ''vrata'' is a personal ritual of making religious vow or resolve, sometimes with fasting or in presence of loved ones.}}

== Structure ==
[[File:Ganesha Basohli miniature circa 1730 Dubost p73.jpg|thumb|The third Khanda centers on Ganesha]]
The text has four ''Khandas'' (parts).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=161}}

{| class="wikitable" align=center style = " background: transparent; "
|+ Sections in Brahmavaivarta Purana{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=161}}{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|pp=LXV-LXVII}}
|-style="text-align: center;"
| style="background: #ffcc00;" |Khanda
| style="background: #ffcc00;" |Number
| style="background: #ffcc00;" |Chapters
| style="background: #ffcc00;" |About
|-style="text-align: center;"
| style="background: #ffad66;" | Brahma
| 1
| 30
| [[Brahman]]
|-style="text-align: center;"
| style="background: #ffad66;" | Prakriti
| 2
| 67
| [[Devi]]
|-style="text-align: center;"
| style="background: #ffad66;" | Ganesha
| 3
| 46
| [[Ganesha]]
|-style="text-align: center;"
| style="background: #ffad66;" | Krishna
| 4
| 131 to 133
| [[Radha Krishna]]
|-style="text-align: center;"
| colspan="2"|Total
| 274 to 276
| style="background: #ffad66;" |Krishna
|}

The third ''khanda'' is called either ''Ganesha-khanda'' or ''Ganapati-khanda''.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=161}}

The tradition and other Puranas assert that this Purana had 18,000 verses.{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|pp=LXV-LXVI}} The actual manuscripts have more than 18,000 verses, unlike other Puranas where they usually fall short.{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|pp=LXV-LXVI}}

The [[Padma Purana]] categorizes ''Brahma Vaivarta Purana'' as a [[Rajas]] Purana.{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|p=12}} Sanskrit scholar [[Ludo Rocher]] considers the ''Sattva-Rajas-Tamas'' classification as "entirely fanciful" and argues there is nothing in this text that actually justifies this classification.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=21}}

== Content ==
{{Quote box
|quote = '''Weapons of the love god'''
<poem>
I give you the following weapons:
Enchanting,
Stupefying,
Maddening,
Fever-producing, and
Sense-depriving.
Please accept these and bewilder everybody.
With these, you will be irresistible.
</poem>
|source = —Brahma to [[Kama]]<br>''Brahmavaivarta Purana'', Chapter 4.35{{Sfn|Kinsley|1979|p=34}}
|bgcolor=#FFE0BB
|align = right
}}
The text's title ''Brahmavaivarta'' means "metamorphosis of [[Brahman]]", who is identified with Krishna.{{sfn|Monier-Williams|1992|p=740|loc=entry on ''[https://andhrabharati.com/dictionary/sanskrit/index.php?w=%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4 Brahmavaivarta]''}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=163}} This Purana takes a view on the creation where the Brahman as Krishna creates the universe and is the universe.{{Sfn|Winternitz|1927|pp=567-568}}{{Sfn|Parmeshwaranand|2001|p=223}} The evolution and the nature of the universe is presented through the legend of [[Radha]] and Krishna in this Purana.{{sfn|Dimock|1963|p=106}} The seduction stories and legends of this text have attracted many scholarly studies.{{Sfn|Gietz|1992|pp=222-223|ps=, with note 1200}}{{Sfn|Kinsley|1979|pp=90-94}}

The first ''khanda'' (part) presents the theme that Krishna is the primordial creator, universal soul and supreme reality concept called Brahman.{{Sfn|Winternitz|1927|pp=567-568}}{{Sfn|Parmeshwaranand|2001|pp=222-223}} The second part presents ''Prakriti'' or matter, which through mythology is equated to five goddesses – [[Radha]], [[Durga]], [[Lakshmi]], [[Saraswati]] and [[Gayatri|Savitri]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=161}}{{Sfn|Winternitz|1927|pp=567-568}} However, many other goddesses are introduced,{{Sfn|Parmeshwaranand|2001|p=218}} but ultimately every goddess and feminine is asserted to be the same essence of Radha ([[Prakṛti|Prakriti]]).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=161}}{{Sfn|Winternitz|1927|pp=567-568}} The third part presents [[Ganesha]], the highly popular elephant headed god, his life story along with that of his family and brother, and he is asserted to be an incarnation of Krishna as well.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=161-163}}{{Sfn|Winternitz|1927|pp=567-568}} The last part of this Purana is all about Radha and Krishna, painted with erotic themes, hymns, legends and mythology.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=163}}{{Sfn|Winternitz|1927|pp=567-568}} Radha and Krishna are presented as inseparable, and Radha is described as the energy and power (''shakti'') of Krishna.{{Sfn|Winternitz|1927|pp=567-568}}

The Purana presents an egalitarian view towards women, wherein it asserts ideas such as, "all female beings have come forth out of the divine female" in chapter 4.13, and that "every insult to a woman is an offence against divine Rädhä" in ''Prakrti-khanda''.{{sfn|Gielen|2008|pp=177-193}} Along with equating all women with goddess Radha, the text equates all men with Krishna.{{Sfn|Gietz|1992|pp=248-249|ps=, with note 1351}} These sections may be from possible influences of the ancient Shaktism tradition of Hinduism.{{Sfn|Brown|1974}}

== Reception ==
[[File:Krishna-radha ardhanari.jpg|thumb|Ardhanarishvara form of [[Radha Krishna]]]]
The ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' focuses on Vishnu and in particular Krishna like the ''Bhagavata Purana'', but its stories and legends have been far less popular than the ''Bhagavata'' text. Its style has been called "insipid, puerile",{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|p=LXVI-LXVII}} and its content and layout of a form so different from the other Puranas that Wilson wrote, "the ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' has not the slightest title to be regarded as a Purana".{{Sfn|Wilson|1864|p=LXVI-LXVII}}

In contrast to Wilson's views, Parmeshwaranand states that this is a [[bhakti]] text oriented towards a mystical experience, and that this text, in its own way, tries to discuss religious and philosophical questions as in other religious works, such as duality and non-duality between God and the world.{{Sfn|Parmeshwaranand|2001|pp=222-223}}

The ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' emphasizes the unity, interdependence and inseparability of the feminine and the masculine, through Radha and Krishna, across its various chapters, and through the concept of ''Ardhanari-Krishna'' (also called ''Ardha-radha-venudhara-murti''), a concept similar to [[Ardhanarishvara]] in Shaivism. This idea of Purana has been traced to an art work found in [[Maharashtra]] where a Krishna [[murti]] is sculpted as half man and half woman.{{sfn|Pradhan|2008|pp=207-213}}

The first part, ''Brahma-khanda'' of the ''Brahmavaivarta Purana'' was translated into [[Assam]]ese, and this manuscript has been dated to the early 19th century.{{sfn|Barnett|1933|pp=11-12|ps=, see the 2nd manuscript}}

The text is part of the Vaishnavism literature in Bengal, but is not considered a canonical scripture, states [[Edward C. Dimock|Edward Dimock]].{{sfn|Dimock|1963|pp=106-127}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|20em}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Barnett |first1=L.D. |year=1933 |jstor=4421514 |title=Two Illustrated Assamese Manuscripts |journal=[[British Museum Quarterly|The British Museum Quarterly]] |volume=8 |issue=1|pages=10–12 |doi=10.2307/4421514 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Cheever Mackenzie |title=God as Mother: A Feminine Theology in India : an Historical and Theological Study of the Brahmavaivarta Purāna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GVwpAAAAYAAJ |year=1974 |publisher=C. Stark |isbn=978-0-89007-004-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Dalal |first=Rosen |year=2014 |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-8184752779 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC}}
* {{Cite book |editor1-last=Dimitrova |editor1-first=Diana |editor2-last=Oranskaia |editor2-first=Tatiana |title=Divinizing in South Asian Traditions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p2JgDwAAQBAJ |date=14 June 2018 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-12360-0}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Dimock |first1=Edward C. Jr. |author-link=Edward C. Dimock |year=1963 |title=Doctrine and Practice among the Vaiṣṇavas of Bengal |journal=History of Religions |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=106–127 |doi=10.1086/462474 |jstor=1062079 |s2cid=162027021}}
* {{cite journal |last=Gielen |first=Joris |title=The Theological Bearing of Puranic Stories: An enquiry into the presence of feminine theology in the Brahmavaivarta Purana |journal=Religions of South Asia |volume=2 |issue=2 |year=2008 |doi=10.1558/rosa.v2i2.177}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gietz |first1=K.P. |display-authors=et al |title=Epic and Puranic Bibliography (Up to 1985) Annotated and with Indexes: Part I: A - R, Part II: S - Z, Indexes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kgpLBpUCufwC |year=1992 |publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag |isbn=978-3-447-03028-1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Hazra |first1=Rajendra Chandra |title=Studies in the Puranic Records on Hindu Rites and Customs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jar4V3piCeQC |orig-year=1940 |year=1987 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0422-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Kinsley |first=David R. |title=The Divine Player: A Study of Kṛṣṇa Līlā |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SYp8ZglBNysC |year=1979 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-0-89684-019-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=Monier-Williams |first1=Monier, Sir |author-link=Monier Monier-Williams |title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages |date=1992 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |location=Delhi |isbn=9788120804548 |edition=4}}
* {{cite book |last=Parmeshwaranand |first=S.W. |title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas |volume=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6F0ZIBIL2ZAC |year=2001 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-226-3}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Pradhan |first1=Shrikant |year=2008 |jstor=42931207 |title=A unique image of Ardharadhavenudharamurti or Ardhanari Krishna |journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute |volume=68/69|pages=207–213 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Richmond |first1=Farley P. |last2=Swann |first2=Darius L. |last3=Zarrilli |first3=Phillip B. |title=Indian Theatre: Traditions of Performance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OroCOEqkVg4C |year=1993 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0981-9}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rocher |first1=Ludo |author-link=Ludo Rocher |title=The Purāṇas |date=1986 |publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag |location=Wiesbaden |isbn=3-447-02522-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=H.H. |author-link=Horace Hayman Wilson |title=Puranas |year=1864 |publisher=Read Books |url=https://archive.org/stream/puranasoraccount00wils#page/28/mode/2up |isbn=1-84664-664-2}}
* {{cite book |last1=Winternitz |first1=M. |translator1-last=Ketkar |translator1-first=S. |title=A History of Indian Literature |volume=1 |date=1927 |publisher=[[University of Calcutta]] |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.97551#page/n603/}}
{{refend}}
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080408110939/http://is1.mum.edu/vedicreserve/puran.htm Complete Brahma Vaivarta and other Puranas in Devanagari] (PDF; archived)

{{Puranas}}
{{Hindudharma}}

[[Category:Puranas]]
[[Category:Vaishnava texts]]
[[Category:Shaktism]]
[[Category:Krishna]]

Brahma Vaivarta Purana - Revision history

Rakshasingh12 at 03:45, 12 June 2025