Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 33
Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge
अथ चाग्नीन् समारोप्य स्वात्मनि ध्यानतत्परः / अनग्निरनिकेतः स्यान्मुनिर्मोक्षपरो भवेत्
atha cāgnīn samāropya svātmani dhyānatatparaḥ / anagniraniketaḥ syānmunirmokṣaparo bhavet
பின்னர் அவன் புனித அக்கினிகளைத் தன் ஆத்மத்திலேயே நிறுவி, ஆத்ம தியானத்தில் முழுமையாக ஈடுபட வேண்டும். வெளிப்புற அக்கினியின்றியும் நிலையான இல்லமின்றியும் வாழ வேண்டும்; அத்தகைய முனி முக்தியையே நோக்கமாகக் கொள்கிறான்.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on moksha-dharma (renunciant discipline) in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis tone
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It treats the Ātman as the true inner altar: the sacred fires are to be ‘installed’ within oneself, implying that realization is inward—through Self-meditation rather than external ritual alone.
It emphasizes ātma-dhyāna (meditation on the Self) with single-pointed commitment, alongside renunciant discipline—living without external fires and without attachment to a fixed home, aligning with a Pashupata-leaning inner-yajña orientation.
By privileging inner realization over outer markers, it reflects the Purana’s synthetic approach: devotion and yoga culminate in moksha as a shared, non-sectarian spiritual goal, harmonizing Shaiva ascetic ideals with Vaishnava teaching authority.