Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91
Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat
Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis
पुरा दारुवने पुण्ये मुनयो गृहमेधिनः / ईश्वराराधनार्थाय तपश्चेरुः सहस्त्रशः
purā dāruvane puṇye munayo gṛhamedhinaḥ / īśvarārādhanārthāya tapaśceruḥ sahastraśaḥ
Long ago, in the holy forest of Dāruvana, householding sages—numbering in the thousands—performed austerities to worship the Lord Īśvara.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within the Kurma Purana’s dialogue frame)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By centering worship on “Īśvara,” the verse frames the Supreme as a single Lord worthy of devotion and discipline—hinting at an overarching, unifying divine principle that later teachings connect with inner realization.
The verse emphasizes tapaḥ—disciplined austerity—as a foundational yogic method: regulated living, restraint, and sustained practice undertaken specifically for Īśvara-ārādhana (God-oriented sādhanā), aligning with Purāṇic Pāśupata-leaning devotion and self-discipline.
It uses the inclusive title “Īśvara,” a bridge-term in the Kurma Purana that supports Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the Lord worshipped is presented as the supreme object of austerity beyond sectarian limitation.