The word Puranas literally means "ancient, old", and it is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly myths, legends, and other traditional lore. There are 18 Maha Puranas (Great Puranas ) and 18 Upa Puranas (Minor Puranas ), with over 400,000 verses. The first versions of the various Puranas were likely composed between the 3rd- and 10th-century CE. The Puranas do not enjoy the authority of a scripture in Hinduism but are considered a Smriti. During the Vedic period, women and Shudras could hear the stories of the Puranas.