Puranas are not Itihas or history as it is understood in the West. A proper interpretation of Itihas and the Puranas would be to regard them as the words of seers who availed themselves of the available literature and classified it into various tomes of ancient life that contributed handsomely in forming the psyche of the East. In truth, there is a body of writings which are popular expositions of inherited truths amongst the people at large. Dharma, as the chief factor in shaping of human life, is the underlying motive of these ancient scriptures. Nevertheless, whatever the content and period of several Puranas including the Markandeya Purana may be, they embody ancient legends as the very name Purana signifies.

Retold in simple language, underlining importance of each Purana, with a lucid summary.

Vishnu Puran is believed to be one of the most important Puranas, if not the most valuable ancient record of the faith called Sanatan Dharma. Its stories reveal about the various exploits of Vishnu incarnations. In rendering this holy text into English, the attention has been paid to put only those details that have certain fundamental truths of life. Hence, in this work those details have been deliberately omitted which may appear rather confusing or uninteresting to the reader not having the initiation in the sacred love. The main thrust of this attempt has been to show a clear glimpse of our ancient hermitage.

The birds said- 'O Jaimini! This was the way, sage Markandeya had narrated the divine tales to Kraustuki. A person who either studies this Purana or listens to it achieves great accomplishment. All his desires are fulfilled and he enjoys a long life. He becomes free from all his sins. Markandeya Purana is the seventh among all the eighteen Puranas. Listening to it helps a man to atone for all the sins committed during the period of one hundred crore Kalpas. The virtues attained by listening to Markandeya Purana are equivalent to the virtues attained by making donations at Pushkar or by studying all the Vedas.'Jaimini replied- 'O birds! You have enlightened my mind by narrating the tales of Markandeya Purana and have made it free from all sorts of confusion. May the almighty God bless you, may you enjoy a long life free from all the diseases.'Saying like this, Jaimini went back to his hermitage.

(Sarup)