Varaha Purana 216.5 — Adhyaya 216, Shloka 5
The Sacred Account of Gokarṇa, Śṛṅgeśvara, and Related Tīrthas
विष्णुना देवतीर्थेन तन्मूलं स्थापितं ततः ॥ तस्य शृङ्गेश्वर इति नाम तत्राभवन्महत् ॥
viṣṇunā devatīrthena tanmūlaṁ sthāpitaṁ tataḥ || tasya śṛṅgeśvara iti nāma tatrābhavan mahat ||
Daraufhin wurde durch Viṣṇu — in Verbindung mit der göttlichen Tīrtha — sein Fundament am Wurzelgrund errichtet. Dort entstand für ihn der große Name „Śṛṅgeśvara“.
Brahmā
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Śṛṅgeśvara (at/near Gokarṇa, per verse sequence)"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"Viṣṇu’s establishing of the ‘mūla’ (base) mirrors the theological claim that the Supreme is the ground (adhiṣṭhāna) of sacred space; the tīrtha is ‘divine’ because its foundation is set by Viṣṇu.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Base/foundation as adhiṣṭhāna of the altar; the site-name Śṛṅgeśvara ties the ‘horn/peak’ motif to īśvaratva—lordship presiding over the axis of the place.","vedantic_connection":"Adhiṣṭhāna doctrine: the Real underlies appearances; sacred geography points to the grounding reality of Viṣṇu as support of worlds."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"theological","core_concept":"Sacredness is not merely natural; it is ‘established’ by divine will, making place a medium of grace.","practical_application":"Approach tīrthas as grounded in īśvara-saṅkalpa; cultivate devotion and reverence rather than treating them as mere landmarks."}
Subject Matter: ["Heritage Sites","Geography","Ritual Studies"]
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tīrtha with a named īśvara-shrine associated to the peak’s base
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 216.2-216.6 (threefold peak; Gokarṇa; Ātmaliṅga presence)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu establishes the base of the sacred peak at a divine tīrtha; the shrine gains the renowned name ‘Śṛṅgeśvara.’","item_prompts":["Viṣṇu with conch/discus","foundation stone/base platform","peak/horn motif above the base","tīrtha waters nearby","priests/devas witnessing","inscription-like depiction of ‘Śṛṅgeśvara’"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Viṣṇu central, strong iconography, base-platform rendered as sacred pedestal, surrounding attendants in ritual stance.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf aura around Viṣṇu and the base, ornate pedestal, rich jewelry, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: graceful Viṣṇu figure, fine ornamentation, architectural base details, calm devotional mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: scenic tīrtha with Viṣṇu near water, gentle landscape, shrine-name suggested through symbolic banner."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional-consecratory","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"warm, reverent"}
FAQs
It ties a site-name (Śṛṅgeśvara) to a mythic act of establishment, a common Purāṇic mechanism for linking cultic centers with pan-Indian theological figures.
Śṛṅgeśvara is presented as a named locus within the Gokarṇa tīrtha landscape.
A philosophy of stewardship is implied: sacred places are ‘established’ and maintained through intentional acts rather than treated as accidental resources.
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