Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 199
Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat
Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis
सहस्त्रचन्द्रार्कविलोचनाय नमो ऽस्तु ते सोम सुमध्यमाय / नमो ऽस्तु ते देव हिरण्यबाहो नमो ऽम्बिकायाः पतये मृडाय
sahastracandrārkavilocanāya namo 'stu te soma sumadhyamāya / namo 'stu te deva hiraṇyabāho namo 'mbikāyāḥ pataye mṛḍāya
સહસ્ર ચંદ્ર-સૂર્ય સમાન દૃષ્ટિવાળા, સુમધ્યમ હે સોમ—તમને નમસ્કાર. હે દેવ, હિરણ્યબાહો (સુવર્ણભુજ)—તમને નમસ્કાર. અંબિકાના પતિ મૃડ (મંગલમય રુદ્ર)—તમને નમઃ।
A devotee/reciter within the Purāṇic narration offering a stuti to Rudra (Śiva) in Adhyaya 15
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
FAQs
By attributing limitless vision (“countless suns and moons”) and auspicious lordship to Rudra, the verse points to an all-pervading, all-knowing Īśvara—an outward devotional form through which the seeker approaches the inner Self as divine consciousness.
The verse functions as a stuti-mantra for japa and dhyāna: concentrating on Rudra as Soma (cool, inwardly luminous) and as Mṛḍa (grace-bestowing) aligns the mind toward śiva-bhāva, a preparatory discipline supportive of Pāśupata-oriented devotion and meditation.
Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such Rudra-praise sits comfortably alongside Vaiṣṇava narration: honoring Rudra as supreme and auspicious is presented as compatible with Purāṇic theism, emphasizing unity of divine reality expressed through multiple names and forms.