Carrello
Compared to other branches of Sanskrit literature, the Purānas received relatively little attention by scholars. They were regarded with contempt for being low-standard and hap hazard collections of all sorts of information, compiled unsystematically by way of continuous addition over the centuries. Some of them even were recast several times by different sects. This very fact made them appear as "spurious", unreliable sources. Nor could the majority of them claim much credit for literary value, since the language is mostly simple and not always in accordance with Pāninian standard.
This attitude towards the Purānas has gradually changed. It came to be realized first that they contain hisotrical information which, when combined with epigraphical sources, provides valuable additional evidences. Next they were also appreciated as sources of dharma which contain passages of otherwise lost Smrti texts. It was further noted, that they contain important passages on materia medica, astrology, geography and other early sciences including statecraft.