Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12
Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas
तमाह विष्णुस्त्वत्तो ऽपि रुद्रे भक्तिर्दृढा मम / तस्मात् प्रतिष्ठितं लिङ्गंनाम्ना तव भविष्यति
tamāha viṣṇustvatto 'pi rudre bhaktirdṛḍhā mama / tasmāt pratiṣṭhitaṃ liṅgaṃnāmnā tava bhaviṣyati
Viṣṇu đáp: “Ôi Rudra, lòng sùng kính của ta đối với Ngài kiên cố, vượt trên mọi điều. Vì thế, Liṅga đã được an lập này sẽ được biết đến bằng chính danh hiệu của Ngài.”
Vishnu (as a speaking deity within the Kurma Purana narrative)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
By presenting Vishnu’s unwavering devotion to Rudra and the sanctifying power of Rudra’s name, the verse points to a single supreme reality approached through different divine forms—supporting the Purana’s integrative (non-sectarian) vision of the one Ishvara.
The verse emphasizes bhakti as a core discipline: steadfast devotion (dṛḍhā bhakti) focused on Ishvara (Rudra). In Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such one-pointed devotion functions like yogic steadiness of mind, supporting inner concentration and worship-based sadhana.
It depicts reverence and unity rather than rivalry: Vishnu openly declares firm devotion to Rudra and authorizes the linga’s fame in Rudra’s name—an explicit statement of harmony central to the Kurma Purana’s Shiva-Vishnu non-dual devotional theology.