Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7
Yamunā–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Agni-tīrtha, Anaraka, Prayāga, and the Tapovana of Jāhnavī
तिस्त्रः कोट्योर्ऽधकोटी च तीर्थानां वायुरब्रवीत् / दिवि भूम्यन्तरिक्षे च तत्सर्वं जाह्नवी स्मृता
tistraḥ koṭyor'dhakoṭī ca tīrthānāṃ vāyurabravīt / divi bhūmyantarikṣe ca tatsarvaṃ jāhnavī smṛtā
Vāyu menyatakan bahawa tīrtha itu berjumlah tiga koṭi dan setengah koṭi; di syurga, di bumi, dan di alam antara—namun semuanya dikenang sebagai Jāhnavī, yakni Gaṅgā sendiri.
Vāyu
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
Indirectly, it teaches a unifying vision: many tīrthas are spoken of, yet all are gathered into one sacred reality (Jāhnavī). In the Purāṇic spiritual lens, such unity mirrors how diverse practices and places ultimately point toward one purifying, all-pervading sacred principle.
The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and śuddhi (purification) as supports for sādhana: pilgrimage, remembrance of Gaṅgā, and contact with sanctified waters are presented as powerful aids that prepare the mind for mantra, japa, dhyāna, and the broader Pāśupata-oriented discipline found in the Kūrma tradition.
By centering purification and sacred geography rather than sectarian difference, it aligns with the Kūrma Purāṇa’s synthetic approach: the one sanctifying power (here, Jāhnavī) serves devotees across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths, supporting a non-rivalrous, complementary vision of devotion and liberation.