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

সেই সময়ৰ পৰা সকলো লোকত লিঙ্গাৰ্চনা সুপ্ৰতিষ্ঠিত হ’ল। হে ব্ৰহ্মন, লিঙ্গ—সকলো ৰূপক পৰমত লয় কৰোৱা চিহ্নস্বৰূপ—ব্ৰহ্মৰ পৰম দেহৰূপ বুলি মান্য।

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.