A centuries-old patchwork of legends, the Puranas spark lively debate over their very makeup. Layers of oral traditions, interwoven with medieval courtly grafts, resist neat dating. Critical editions, like those from the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, reveal a kaleidoscope of regional variants—and raise the question: which version, if any, comes closest to the “original”? As with peeling an onion, each manuscript layer yields tears of scholarly frustration at conflicting chronologies and sectarian redactions—Vaishnava, Shaiva or Shakta interests often leave loose ends in narrative threads.

Beyond textual fences, modern critics zero in on social undercurrents. Passages endorsing rigid caste hierarchies or sanctioning patriarchal norms jar with contemporary values. Feminist readings spotlight episodes where divine heroines suffer cruelty or sidelining, while Dalit scholars challenge portrayals that cement untouchability. These strands have fueled heated classroom battles over whether state education boards should scrub certain verses or provide contextual footnotes—a skirmish reflected in recent school-textbook revisions from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu.

Political winds have blown Puranic lore into the spotlight, too. Nationalist groups sometimes invoke ancient myths to bolster visions of a unified Bharat, advocating a selective retelling of cosmic time suits present-day agendas. Western Indologists and Indian thinkers spar over accusations of colonialist distortion versus claims of modern appropriation by Hindutva ideologues. Meanwhile, translators—whether under academic or devotional banners—juggle fidelity to Sanskrit syntax against readability, occasionally provoking legal threats or public uproar when interpretations stray from traditionalist expectations.

Yet these controversies aren’t mere academic wrestling. They mirror a broader challenge: honoring mythological richness while confronting ethical and historical accountability. As digital archives blossom, new manuscript discoveries promise fresh twists in an already intricate tale. Navigating Puranic criticism today feels like orbiting a vast cosmic wheel—where ancient gods and modern sensibilities collide in an ever-turning dance.