Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

पञ्चानामपि देवानां ब्रह्मादीनां सदाश्रयम् / ओङ्कारबोधकं लिङ्गं पञ्चायतनमुच्यते

Transliteration

pañcānāmapi devānāṃ brahmādīnāṃ sadāśrayam / oṅkārabodhakaṃ liṅgaṃ pañcāyatanamucyate

Translation

Ese Liṅga que es refugio perenne de los cinco dioses —comenzando por Brahmā— y que revela el sentido de la sílaba sagrada Oṃ, es llamado Pañcāyatana, el santuario quíntuple.

Word by Word

• पञ्चानाम्: of five
• पञ्चानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; संख्याशब्द (indeclinable-like but used as subanta here)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात (particle)

• देवानाम्: of gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मादीनाम्: of Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation; apposition to devānām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्म-आदि = Brahmā and others)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• आश्रयम्: refuge, support
• आश्रयम्: विशेषण (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; used as predicate/appositive to liṅga

• ओङ्कारबोधकम्: revealing/indicating Oṃkāra
• ओङ्कारबोधकम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of liṅga)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ओङ्कार + बोधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ओङ्कारं बोधयति इति)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of passive ‘ucyate’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पञ्चायतनम्: pañcāyatana
• पञ्चायतनम्: कर्म (Karma; predicate complement in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास; predicate designation

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (contextual instruction within the Kurma Purana’s teaching on worship and synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Oṃkāra
• Liṅga
• Pañcāyatana (five-deity worship)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting the Liṅga as the “sadā-āśraya” (ever-abiding support) of multiple divine forms and as the revealer of Oṃ, the verse points to one underlying Supreme Reality that is signified through Oṃ and approached through diverse deities.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes contemplative worship (upāsanā) through Oṃkāra-awareness: meditating on Oṃ as the unifying principle while honoring the fivefold divine manifestations, integrating mantra (Oṃ) with symbol (Liṅga) and devotional concentration.

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

By defining the Liṅga as a universal refuge for the principal deities and linking it to Oṃ, the verse supports a non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva’s Liṅga functions as a unifying theological center compatible with Vaiṣṇava reverence for the one Supreme indicated by Oṃ.