\Pu*ra"na\, n. [Skr. pur[=a]?, properly. old, ancient,
fr. pur[=a] formerly.]
One of a class of sacred Hindoo poetical works in the
Sanskrit language which treat of the creation, destruction,
and renovation of worlds, the genealogy and achievements of
gods and heroes, the reigns of the Manus, and the
transactions of their descendants. The principal Puranas are
eighteen in number, and there are the same number of
supplementary books called Upa Puranas.