Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27
Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time
ओङ्कारं समनुस्मृत्य प्रणम्य च कृताञ्जलिः / ताम भगवान् ब्रह्मा सृजेमा विविधाः प्रजाः
oṅkāraṃ samanusmṛtya praṇamya ca kṛtāñjaliḥ / tāma bhagavān brahmā sṛjemā vividhāḥ prajāḥ
Après s’être dûment remémoré la syllabe sacrée Oṁ et s’être incliné, les mains jointes en révérence, Bhagavān Brahmā entreprit de créer les innombrables et diverses catégories d’êtres vivants.
Suta (narrator) describing the cosmogonic sequence
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By placing Oṁ at the head of creation, the verse implies that manifestation proceeds from contemplation of the supreme, all-pervading reality signified by Praṇava—pointing to Atman/Brahman as the ground of all beings.
It highlights praṇava-anusmṛti (recollection/meditation on Oṁ) joined with namaskāra and añjali—showing that inner contemplation and outward reverence together form a disciplined sādhana that precedes right action.
While not naming Shiva or Vishnu directly, it reflects the Purana’s synthesizing theology: creation begins through devotion to the supreme principle (Oṁ), a shared emblem of the one Ishvara revered across Shaiva and Vaishnava frames.