Tirthas in the Kandula Purana
By S. K. Dave
Summary
In Tirthas in the Kandula Purana, S. K. Dave examines a minor Gujarati Purana that incorporates local pilgrimage traditions into the wider Purana genre. Puranas mix legend and history and are compiled from tales, episodes and lore passed down through generations. Gujarat produced regional Purana sections like the Nagarakhanda of the Skandapurana and the Dwarka Mahatmya, inspiring scholars to compose caste Puranas and Tirtha Mahatmyas that legitimised community identities. Dave explains that such works imitate the structure of major Puranas, containing origin stories, genealogies, cosmology, ritual prescriptions and pilgrimage narratives. The Kandula Purana, dedicated to the Kanduliya Brahmins and Kapola Vaisyas, consists of 1,404 verses divided into fourteen chapters. It recounts the caste’s origins, linking it to King Mandhata and the region of Panchala, and integrates local tirthas into mainstream mythology. Dave argues that regional Puranas like this demonstrate how communities used Purana writing to establish their religious identity and connect with pan‑Indian tradition.
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Conclusion
Dave shows that caste Puranas like the Kandula Purana creatively adapt the Purana form to assert local identity. These works blend legend, history and ritual to anchor a community’s origins and tirthas within classical mythology. The Kandula Purana thus highlights the dynamic interplay between regional traditions and pan‑Indian Purana literature.