Bhagavata Purana (Shrimad Bhagavatam)
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The most loved Purana of Krishna devotion, told by the sage Shuka to King Parikshit. Its tenth book on Krishna's life inspired bhakti movements across India.
| Tradition | Hindu (Vaishnava) |
|---|---|
| Type | Purana |
| Language | Sanskrit |
| Period | c. 9th–10th century CE in its present form (scholarly estimate; dates are debated) |
| Composed or compiled by | Traditionally attributed to Vyasa; narrated by his son Shuka |
What it contains
- 12 books (skandhas), traditionally said to contain 18,000 verses.
- The avatars of Vishnu, including Narasimha, Vamana and Rama.
- The life of Krishna in Vrindavan and Mathura (tenth book).
- The Uddhava Gita (eleventh book).
- Devotees such as Prahlada, Dhruva and Gajendra.
Significance
It is the core scripture of many devotional movements, including those of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vallabhacharya and Srimanta Sankardeva, and is recited in week-long Bhagavata Saptaha gatherings.