Puranas are not Itihas or history as it is understood in the West. A proper interpretation of Itihas and the Puranas would be to regard them as the words of seers who availed themselves of the available literature and classified it into various tomes of ancient life that contributed handsomely in forming the psyche of the East. In truth, there is a body of writings which are popular expositions of inherited truths amongst the people at large. Dharma, as the chief factor in shaping of human life, is the underlying motive of these ancient scriptures. Nevertheless, whatever the content and period of several Puranas including the Markandeya Purana may be, they embody ancient legends as the very name Purana signifies.