The 18 Mahapuranas contain 400,000 shlokas. They are several times the size of Mahabharata. In these, six are 'Satvic' or Vaishnava Puranas and glorify Lord Vishnu, six are 'Rajasic' or Brahma Puranas and glorify Lord Brahma, and six are 'Tamasic' or Shiva Puranas and glorify Lord Shiva. Vyasa is the compiler of the puranas from age to age; and for this age, he is Krishna-Dvaipayana, the son of Parashara.