Book Review: Purana Perennis
Summary
The final review considers Purāṇa Perennis: Reciprocity and Transformation in Hindu and Jaina Texts, an edited volume that brings together leading scholars to explore how Purāṇas evolve across communities. The table of contents lists nine essays: Laurie L. Patton analyses Purāṇic trends in the Bṛhaddevatā; Wendy Doniger studies why a parrot narrates the Bhāgavata and Devībhāgavata Purāṇas and examines the Kedāra Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Purāṇa; Velcheru Narayana Rao discusses Purāṇa as Brahminic ideology; A. K. Ramanujan investigates folk mythologies and folk Purāṇas; David Shulman examines the rescue of Gajendra in the Telugu Mahābhāgavata; Friedhelm Hardy contrasts information and transformation—two faces of the Purāṇas; John E. Cort provides an overview of the Jaina Purāṇas; and Padmanabh S. Jaini presents the Jaina Purāṇas as a counter‑tradition. Together these essays demonstrate how Purāṇas are not fixed scriptures but living collections of myths, rituals, genealogies and moral teachings that adapt to changing social and religious contexts. The review summarises how the contributors show reciprocity between Hindu and Jaina traditions: Jaina authors adapt stories from Hindu Purāṇas, emphasising non‑violence and the spiritual achievements of Tīrthaṅkaras; Hindu texts, in turn, incorporate Jaina motifs. The volume highlights the transformation of narratives as they move across regions and languages—from Sanskrit to Telugu, Kannada and Gujarati—and how oral traditions inform written compositions. The reviewer notes that the essays employ diverse methodologies, including textual criticism, anthropology and literary analysis. The book underscores that Purāṇas function as cultural encyclopaedias, negotiating ideology, devotion and social order. By juxtaposing essays on Hindu and Jaina Purāṇas, the volume invites readers to appreciate the pluralistic and dialogical nature of Indian religious literature.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
The review concludes that Purāṇa Perennis is a valuable resource for understanding how Purāṇas adapt and resonate across Hindu and Jaina traditions. The collected essays reveal that these texts are dynamic, evolving through acts of reciprocity and reinterpretation. By illuminating the contributions of both Brahmanic and Jaina authors, the volume encourages comparative scholarship and deepens our appreciation of India’s rich narrative heritage.