They are read a great deal by women.

Some are very ancient, or at least contain fragments of more ancient Puranas.

The very word signifies "antiquity." Most of them are devoted to the worship of Vischnu.

According to the Bhagavat Purana,[89] the only reasonable object of life is to meditate on Vischnu.

Brahma, who is called in one place "the cause of causes," proclaims Vischnu to be the only pure absolute essence, of which the universe is the manifestation.