The present volume, like all other volumes, is encyclopedic n character. It deals with the miscellaneous topics such as Cosmogony, Religion, Philosophy, History, Geography and Astronomy. In Religion and Ethics it places emphasis on the performance of duties of one’s own profession (Varna-dharma) in relation to one’s own stage of life (arama). It also recounts the glory and greatness of the holy places of pilgrimage— Varanasi and Prayàga in particular. In philosophy it follows the Sankhya system of thought in regard to the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe. In History it describes the genealogies of the solar and lunar races and the episodes of ill ustrated kings. In Geography it describes Bhuvanakoga, seven Dvipas, their flora and fauna, their mountain and river- systems. In Astronomy it describes the planetary system, the solar chariot, the chariots of planets, the function of the twelve àdityas, the seven rays of the sun.
In the sectarian grouping of the Puranas, the Kürma comes under the Saiva Puränas. The author of the Padmapurä a (Uttarakhanda 262. 81-4) classifies Karma as Tamasa together with Linga, Siva, Agni and Skanda. But scholars like S. K. Dc think that Kurma was originally a Vaisva Purâna which was Pasupatized later on. However, we have tried to show in the footnotes that the Purana-writer was a non sectarian person neither pro-Visnu nor pro-Siva. He wanted to emphasize that as manifestations of the supreme Brahma both Siva and Visnu are the same. There is an obvious tendency cowards compromise between Vaiavism, Saivism and other of the Puranic Pernr1 To Illustrate Compare Part 1, Ch. 10 where Brahmã is praising Siva, oneness of the family of gods—Brahma, Visnu and Siva emphasized. Part 1, Ch. 12 enumerates one thousand epithets of the Goddess Umã and glorifies her different aspects; Part 1, Ch.16 eulogizes Nrsimha, the Man-Lion of incarnation of Visnu against whom the Pasupata missile discharged by Hiranyaksa had no effects. In part I Ch.16 Siva is said to have sought refuge in lord Visnu Part I Ch.17 Contains a hymn to Visnuo on the other hand in part I Ch.26 Srikrsna a full fledged incarnation of Visnu performs penance and propitiates Siva for getting a son from Jambavati.
The foregoing illustrations and more reveal a clear attempt to amalgamate the different deities especially the trinity of gods to counteract the divine tendencies in different sects in those times.