Upapuranas

Upapuranas are a category of Sanskrit texts within Hinduism. They are considered secondary puranas, distinct from the eighteen Mahapuranas. While the Mahapuranas are widely recognized as canonical and authoritative, the Upapuranas are often viewed as supplementary or regional in scope. Their content frequently overlaps with the Mahapuranas, covering similar themes such as cosmology, genealogies of deities, rituals, and descriptions of sacred places. However, Upapuranas may also focus on specific deities, local traditions, or particular sectarian traditions, sometimes offering a more specialized or localized perspective. The exact number of Upapuranas is not definitively fixed, and different scholars and traditions may list varying numbers. Some prominent Upapuranas include the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the Naradiya Purana, and the Bhavishyottara Purana, though their classification as Upapuranas is sometimes debated by scholars. These texts play a role in disseminating religious knowledge and practices, particularly in regional contexts, and contribute to the diverse literary and theological landscape of Hinduism.