Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

ज्वालामालावृताङ्गाय ज्वलनस्तम्भरूपिणे / नमः शिवाय शान्ताय ब्रह्मणे लिङ्गमूर्तये

Transliteration

jvālāmālāvṛtāṅgāya jvalanastambharūpiṇe / namaḥ śivāya śāntāya brahmaṇe liṅgamūrtaye

Translation

Sembah sujud kepada Śiva, yang anggota-Nya diliputi kalungan nyala api, yang menampakkan diri sebagai tiang api yang menyala; sembah sujud kepada Yang Damai, kepada Brahman sendiri yang berwujud Liṅga.

Word by Word

• ज्वाला-माला-आवृत-अङ्गाय: to him whose limbs are covered with a garland of flames
• ज्वाला-माला-आवृत-अङ्गाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ (धातु) + आ- उपसर्ग, क्त) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—ज्वालामालया आवृतानि अङ्गानि यस्य

• ज्वलन-स्तम्भ-रूपिणे: to the one having the form of a pillar of fire
• ज्वलन-स्तम्भ-रूपिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ज्वलनस्य स्तम्भः; तस्य रूपी)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana/भाव (भावार्थक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार); चतुर्थ्यर्थे प्रयोगः

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• शान्ताय: to the peaceful one
• शान्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मणे: to Brahman
• ब्रह्मणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• लिङ्ग-मूर्तये: to the liṅga-formed one
• लिङ्ग-मूर्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

A narrator/reciter within the Purāṇic discourse (stuti addressed to Lord Śiva in the context of the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman
• Linga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Śiva “Brahman” and identifying the Liṅga as his “mūrti,” the verse points to the Supreme as both transcendent (peaceful Brahman) and immanent (a worshipful form), implying the Atman’s ultimate identity with the Absolute beyond names and forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a Pāśupata-style contemplative devotion: steadying the mind on the paradox of the fiery cosmic pillar (tejas) and the inner peace (śānti), using Liṅga-upāsanā as an icon of concentrated meditation on the formless Brahman.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology, naming Śiva as Brahman frames him as the same Supreme reality revered across sectarian forms—supporting the non-dual thrust that Śiva and Viṣṇu are expressions of one ultimate Ishvara.