Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

ततः प्रभृति लोकेषु लिङ्गार्चा सुप्रतिष्ठिता / लिङ्ग तल्लयनाद् ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मणः परमं वपुः

Transliteration

tataḥ prabhṛti lokeṣu liṅgārcā supratiṣṭhitā / liṅga tallayanād brahman brahmaṇaḥ paramaṃ vapuḥ

Translation

ومنذ ذلك الحين استقرّت عبادة اللِّينغا في العوالم كلّها رسوخًا. لأن اللِّينغا—بكونه علامةً دالّة وبقوّته على إذابة جميع الصور في المطلق، يا براهمن—يُبجَّل بوصفه الجسدَ الأسمى للبراهمان.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान/कालवाचक अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from then')

• प्रभृति: from (that time) onward
• प्रभृति: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: आद्यार्थक अव्यय (from…onwards)

• लोकेषु: in the worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• लिङ्गार्चा: worship of the liṅga
• लिङ्गार्चा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग + अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (लिङ्गस्य अर्चा)

• सुप्रतिष्ठिता: well-established
• सुप्रतिष्ठिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रतिष्ठित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used adjectivally); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'सु' उपसर्ग/उपपद

• लिङ्ग: O liṅga
• लिङ्ग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• लयनात्: from dissolution/absorption
• लयनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (O Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman/Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वपुः: form/body
• वपुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator/Sūta (Purāṇic narrator addressing a Brahmin sage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Liṅga
• Brahman (as Absolute)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It presents the Liṅga as a supreme “sign” of Brahman: not a limited idol, but a pointer to the Absolute into which names and forms dissolve (laya), aligning worship with realization of the non-limited Brahman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies laya-oriented contemplation: using the Liṅga as a support (ālambana) for worship and meditation so the mind resolves (līyate) from external forms toward Brahman—an approach compatible with Pāśupata-leaning Śaiva practice integrated with Purāṇic devotion.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By defining Liṅga-worship as oriented to Brahman itself (the supreme reality), it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: sectarian forms function as gateways to one Absolute, allowing Śaiva symbols to harmonize with broader Vaiṣṇava-Purāṇic theology.