The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1890 page)

(Skt., ‘ancient’). Any of a class of Sanskrit verse texts which contain mythological accounts of ancient days. Pur
as are considered
sm
ti
or non-
Vedic
Hindu scripture. They were probably compiled between 500 and 1500 CE, although they contain much earlier material from the
itih
sa
(epics) and other sources.
The Pur
as have their origin in texts for the Vedic edification of lower
castes
and women.
A proper Pur
a should expound the
pañcalak
a
a
(five subjects):
sarga
(creation),
va
a
(genealogy of gods and
is