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The Purana tradition

CHENNAI : The oral tradition in the dissemination of spiritual knowledge has been in vogue since time immemorial. This method ensures that any body of knowledge is preserved intact as the preceptor teaches his disciple directly. The Puranas were composed for the sake of expounding the truth to a larger audience and thus this body of literature is best suited to the narrative tradition. The Bhagavata Purana states that the Lord expounded the truth in four couplets to the creator, Brahma, at the time of creation when he meditated on Him. Vyasa after composing this Purana taught it to his son Suka, who narrated it to sages and also to Pareekshit when he sought enlightenment within the short span of seven days at his disposal.

In his discourse, Sri B. Sundar Kumar said Suta was one of the sages who learnt this Purana from Suka and the narrative in the text proceeds in the form of a conversation between Suta and Saunaka. Vyasa composed this Purana at the instance of Sage Narada, after he had written the Mahabharata, to specifically highlight the incarnations of the Lord in the world and devotion to Him. On the lines of the other Puranas this also deals with creation of the universe and the rationale of the Supreme Being's advents.

As it was written as a sequel to the Mahabharata, the Purana at the outset dwells on the aftermath of the great war, and the events after the departure of Lord Krishna and the Pandavas from the world. One of the insightful incidents portrayed in this section is the meeting of Uddhava and Vidura. Vidura abandoned his kinsmen and went on pilgrimage after all his attempts to counsel Dhritarashtra and Duryodana were in vain. Being a wise and pious man he retired to the forest before the war commenced and met Uddhava when he reached the bank of Yamuna, which brought back memories of Lord Krishna.

It was an intense emotional moment for both who were great devotees, one having to convey the touching farewell message of the Lord to the other. Vidura was overwhelmed because the news that Krishna was no more was hard enough to digest and the fact that the Lord had remembered him and sent a message concerning his welfare through Uddhava. Krishna had directed Vidura to meet Maitreya and listen to the Bhagavata Purana from him.

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