),
manvantara
(the reigns of the
Manus
),
pratisarga
(destruction and recreation, together with the history of humanity), and
va
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00028.jpg)
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00004.jpg)
nucarita
(legendary history of the Solar and Lunar dynasties).
The Pur
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00006.jpg)
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
as are divided into two categories, Mah
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00006.jpg)
pur
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00006.jpg)
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
as (major) and Upapur
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00006.jpg)
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
as (minor), each category having eighteen members.
Pur
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00006.jpg)
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
as stress bhakti (devotion) and miraculous manifestations of divine grace. Although many Hindu reformers such as
Day
nanda
have attacked puranic religiosity, it remains the dominant form of Hinduism.