ABOUT THE BOOK : The first two khands of the Brahmavaivarta Puraa (BvP) deal with Brahma and Prakti respectively. Both introduce the theology that enables Ka to be treated as identical with the supreme Brahma, and as Viu/Narayaa in all his forms. Ultimately everything goes back to Ka as the source of power and being, even including the mother goddesses who are so prolific in the text, not just in its second khaa. The fourth and final khaa treats the mythology of Ka himself, with focus on his birth, and just before this comes the Gaapatikhaa (GKh).
GKh is one of the few mahapuranas that includes a separate khaa about Gaesa, with the exceptions being the two Gaapatya Puranas – the Gaesa and Mudgala Puranas-and the Vinayakamahatmya of the Skanda Purana. When one reads the other three khaas of the Puraa, it is clearly evident that the GKh fits in perfectly with the principal themes of the entire Puraa, all associated with Ka in his various manifestations and the theology of the mother goddess, especially Radha and Durga. In addition, it continues the practice in many of its chapters of exposing the application of kavacas, dhyanas, mantras and stotras, to the extent that the text is almost a handbook of devotional ritual.
The second half of the GKh is essentially a version of the Parasurama myth. This begins with the intention to tell a well known episode about Gaesa reflected in his common name Ekadanta. This certainly offers a unique interpretation of its, focusing as it does on the morality of patricide and regicide, and relations between boys and their mothers.
There have been two previous translations of the Brahmavaivarta Puraa. The present translation is a fresh translation but the translator has subsequently compared it with the earlier translations to remain transparent to the Sanskrit itself.