55,000 verses. A large compilation of diverse topics. The north Indian manuscripts of Padma Purana are very different from than south Indian versions, and the various recensions in both groups in different languages (Devanagari and Bengali, for example) show major inconsistencies. Describes cosmology, the world, and the nature of life from the perspective of Vishnu. Discusses festivals, numerous legends, the geography of rivers and regions from northwest India to Bengal to the kingdom of Tripura, major sages of India, various Avatars of Vishnu, and his cooperation with Shiva, the story of Rama-Sita that is different than the Hindu epic Ramayana. Like Skanda Purana, it is a detailed treatise on travel and pilgrimage centers in India.

It is an encyclopedic text, named after the lotus in which creator god Brahms appeared, and includes large sections dedicated to Vishnu, as well significant sections on Shiva and Shakti. It is one of the voluminous texts,  claiming to have 55,000 verses, with the actual surviving manuscripts showing about 50,000. The text includes sections on cosmology, mythology, genealogy, geography,  rivers and seasons, temples, and pilgrimage to numerous sites in India – notably to the Brahma temple in Pushkar Rajasthan, versions of the story of Rama and Sita different than one found in Valmiki’s Ramayana, festivals, glorification mainly of  Vishnu but also in parts of Shiva and their worship, discussions on ethics and guest hospitality, Yoga, theosophical discussion on Atman (soul), Advaita, Moksha, and other topics.