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Introduction
The Bhavisya Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas, as stated in the text of Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.7.23-24): The eighteen major Puranas are the Brahma, Padma, Visnu, Siva, Linga, Garuda, Narada, Bhagavata, Agni, Skanda, Bhavisya, Brahma-vaivarta, Markandeya, Vamana, Varaha, Matsya, Kurma and Brahmanda Puranas.
Later, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.13.4-9), when the number of verses contained I each of these major Puranas is listed, it is said: the Bhavisya Purana (consists of) fourteen thousand five hundred (verses). There are statements in other places, however, that indicate that the Bhavisya Purana contains as many as twenty-six thousand verses. This present edition of the Bhavisya Purana is divided into four parts Brahma Parva, Madhyama Parva, Pratisarga Parva, and Uttara Parva. The Brahma Parva consists of two hundred sixteen chapters, the Madhyama Parva consists of sixty-two chapters, the Pratisarga Parva consists of one hundred chapters, and the Uttara Parva consists of two hundred eight chapters.
It is generally understood that the Puranas deal with ancient histories, not only on this planet but on planets throughout the universe. The specific appeal of this Purana, however, is that it narrates incidents that will occur in the future, as well as accounts that happened in the distant past.
Once, during a room conversation in Bombay in April, 1977, Srila Prabhupada was asked about these future predictions:
Tamala Krsna: He says he read a passage of the Bhavisya Maha-Purana written by Vyasadeva three thousand years before foretelling Jesus Christ's presence in the Himalayas in 78 of the Christian era, and his meeting with King Shalamoyi. Are there any other prophecies in the Bhavisya Maha-Purana or in any other scriptures telling more accurately Jesus Christ's birthday?
Prabhupada: Everything is accurate there.
The Bhavisya Purana is not very often quoted by the Vaisnava acaryas in our line. The Bhavisya Purana is referred to several times is The Nectar of Devotion, in relation to Ratha-yatra: A similar statement is there in the Bhavisya Purana, in which it is said, "Even if born of a lowly family, a person who follows the Ratha-yatra car when the Deities pass in front or from behind will surely be elevated to the position of achieving equal opulence with Visnu."
And again: In the Bhavisya Purana there is a statement about observing different ceremonies celebrating the Lord's appearance (birthday) and other transcendental activities. It is said, "My Lord Janardana [Krsna], please let us know the date when Your mother Devaki-devi gave birth to You. If you kindly inform us about this, then we shall observe a great celebration on this date. O killer of Kesi, we are souls one-hundred-percent surrendered unto Your lotus feet, and we wish only to please You with our ceremonies."
In this first volume of Bhavisya Purana, there are no future predictions but as in all the Puranas, there is much of great interest, In this volume there is an elaborate exposition of the auspicious and inauspicious characteristics of men and women, and in the course of this description, there is much information on Vedic physiognomy. As in all Vedic literature, we are not simply dealing with that which is perceivable to our gross senses. There is certainly much being enacted on a very subtle platform at least that is my personal conviction. Such things may be witnessed by us, but their affects upon us cannot be denied. Physiognomy falls into that category.
The Vedic understanding is that the gross body of a living entity is manifested according to the condition of the subtle body, or mind. Thus, the condition of one's gross body indicates the previous mentality of person, and this process is carried on from one moment to the next. Why does someone have particular bodily features, and what to they indicate? This is the subtle science that is explained in this volume of the Bhavisya Purana. This volume also contains the beginning of an elaborate description of the significance of each of the days of the fortnight, beginning with the first, or pratipada. And, of course, there are stories to illustrate whatever is being explained and in this volume, there is the very interesting story of how Lord Braham's fifth head was severed, and for what reason.
This present edition is in response to the many requests for an English edition of the Bhavisya Purana, and it is the first, thus filling a big gap in our library of Vedic literature.
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This Purana is supremely beneficial, it is the greatest of all literatures, and it enhances one's intelligence. It awards one an exalted reputation, and enables one to achieve the eternal goal of life. All types of religious principles are described in this literature. The faults and good qualities of all kinds of activities are mentioned herein (Chapter 1, texts 79-80)
Apart from this, the compilers of this literature have included many historical incidents and traditional stories. A description of the creation of the three worlds, the various purificatory processes, and ancient histories are found in this great literature (Chapter 1, text 85)
This literature also includes glorification of those who speak on spiritual matters, the rules and regulations for observing various vows, the proper etiquette to be observed by the members of the four asrama, the duties of a student who has just returned after completing his studies at the gurukula, intimate association with women, the procedures for marriage, the characteristics of men, and the characteristics of women .(Chapter 1, texts 86-87)
Contents
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Introduction
There are eighteen major Puranas, as stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.7.23-24): The eighteen major Puranas are the Brahma, Padma, Visnu, Siva, Linga, Garuda, Narada, Bhagavata, Agni, Skanda, Bhavisya, Brahma-vaivarta, Markandeya Vamana, Varaha, Matsya, Kurma and Brahmanda Puranas.
The number of verses in each Purana is listed in other verses of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.13.4-9): The Brahma Purana consists of ten thousand verses, the Padma Purana of fifty-five thousand, Sri Visnu Purana of twenty-three thousand, the Siva Purana of twenty-four thousand and Srimad-Bhagavatam of eighteen thousand. The Narada Purana has twenty-five thousand verses, the Markandeya Purana nine thousand, the Agni purana fifteen thousand four hundred, the Bhavisya Purana fourteen thousand five hundred, the Brahma-vaivarta Purana eighteen thousand and the Linga Purana eleven thousand . The Varaha Purana contains twenty-four thousand verses, the Skanda Puranas eight-one thousand one hundred, the Vamana Purana fourteen thousand, the Garuda Purana nineteen thousand and the Brahmanda Purana twelve thousand. Thus the total number of verses in all the Puranas is four hundred thousand. Eighteen thousand of these, once again, belong to the beautiful Bhagavatam. This is the first edition of an English Bhavisya purana to be published ad so naturally it will be if interest to scholars of Vedic literature. As the name implies, this book gives predictions into the future and this is if special interest to one all. This second volume deals primarily with worship of the sun-god. While going though this volume, you may become puzzled because the glorification of the sun-god seems to indicate that e is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In the chapter summary of Canto Five, chapter twenty-two of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada wrote: The sun-god, who controls the affairs of the entire universe, especially in regard to heat, light, seasonal changes ad so on, is considered an expansion of Narayana. He represents the three Vedas-Rg, Yajur and Sama-and therefore he is known as Trayimaya, the form of Lord Narayana. Sometimes the sun-god is also called Surya Narayana. The sun-god has expanded himself in twelve divisions, and thus he controls the six seasonal changes and causes winter, summer, rain and so on. Yogis and karmis following the varnasrama institution, who practice hatha or Astanga-yoga or who perform agnihotra sacrifices, worship Surya Narayana for their own benefit. The demigod Surya is always in touch with the Supreme personality of Godhead, Narayana.
As explained in this volume, the sun-god is not merely one of the demigods. This is confirmed by Srila Prabhupada in his purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.23.3: It is also significant that the predominating deities of even the greatest planets have been of fered their exalted posts because of the very valuable pious activities they performed in previous births. This is indicated herein by the words karma-nirmita-gatayah. For example, as we have previously discussed, the moon in called Jiva, which means that he is a living entity like us, but because of his pious activities he has been appointed to his post as the moon-god. Similarly, all the demigods are living entities who have been appointed to their various posts as the masters of the moon, the earth, Venus and so on because of their great service and pious acts. Only the predominating deity of the sun, Surya Narayana, is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
At the end of this volume, Surya himself discloses the fact that he is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When asked who he worships, he responds that he worships the Supreme Lord, who is his eternal master. It is advised that for achieving good health and a cure for a diseased condition, one should worship the sun-god. With this in mind, let me hope that these words find you in good health.
From the Jacket
This is the first edition of an English Bhavisya Purana to be published and so naturally it will be of interest to scholars of Vedic literature.
As the name implies, this book gives predictions into the future and this is of special interest to one and all. This second volume deals primarily with the worship of the sun-god. While going though this volume, you may become puzzled because the glorification of the sun-god seems to indicate that he is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In the chapter summary of Canto Five, chapter twenty-two of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada wrote: The sun-god, who controls the affairs of the entire universe, especially in regard to heat, light, seasonal changes and so on, is considered an expansion on Narayana.
A similar statement is there is the Bhavisya Purana, in which it is said, "Even if born of a lowly family, a person who follows the Ratha-yatra car when the Deities pass in front or fro behind will surely be elevated to the position of achieving equal opulence with Visnu."
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Any act that is performed while chanting this previously-mentioned mantra will turn out successful because all the planets become satisfied. After chanting this mantra while concentrating into water for seven nights, there can be torrents of rain, or else ponds and well can became dry, and deities in the temples of the demigods can shake, or else be attracted or stunned. Indeed, this mantra can attract a man or woman, even if he or she is thousands of miles away (Chapter 27, texts 27-30)
To become an object of love and affection for people in general and to control the king, one should prepare a thumb-sized deity of Ganapati If one offers incense made from red sandalwood to the Lord within the heat, who is represented by Ganapati, he will become very fortunate (Chapter 29, text 13)
One who, with faith and devotion, fasts while worshiping Surya on this Saptami, which dispels the reactions to all kinds of sinful activities and awards advancement on the path toward transcendental happiness, will gain relief from the threefold material miseries. (Chapter 61, text 35)
Contents