paurāṇika

A pauranika is an Indian storyteller who recounts ancient myths and legends, drawing from the Puranas. These Puranas are encyclopaedic collections of Hindu sacred literature, containing myths, genealogies, and lore that vary in origin and date. Traditionally, they cover five subjects: primary and secondary creation, genealogies of gods and patriarchs, the reigns of Manus, and the history of solar and lunar dynasties.1

The Puranas also detail religious developments, customs, ceremonies, caste duties, and the construction of temples and places of pilgrimage. They are written in a narrative style similar to the great Sanskrit epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. These stories were accessible to everyone, including women and lower castes, making the Puranas scriptures for the common people. The pauranikas, as heirs to ancient storytellers, continue to share this rich tradition at festivals and gatherings.123