Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66
Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany
मार्कण्डेय उवाच कथं लिङ्गमभूत् पूर्वमैश्वरं परमं पदम् / प्रबोधार्थं स्वयं कृष्ण वक्तुमर्हसि सांप्रतम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca kathaṃ liṅgamabhūt pūrvamaiśvaraṃ paramaṃ padam / prabodhārthaṃ svayaṃ kṛṣṇa vaktumarhasi sāṃpratam
马尔坎德耶说道：“在最初之时，林伽如何出现——那至主的至尊标志、至上的境地？为使我们觉悟，噢克里希纳，请你如今亲自垂慈开示。”
Sage Mārkaṇḍeya
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames the Liṅga as “paramaṃ padam,” the supreme state/abode—pointing to the ultimate reality beyond ordinary forms, to be understood through awakened insight rather than mere ritual description.
The verse emphasizes prabodha (awakening) through divine instruction (upadeśa). In Kurma Purana’s broader yogic tone, such awakening aligns with contemplative inquiry, disciplined attention, and devotion that ripens into direct understanding.
A Shaiva symbol (Liṅga/Īśvara) is asked about directly to Kṛṣṇa (Viṣṇu) as the competent revealer—reflecting the Purana’s integrative stance where Śiva’s highest principle and Viṣṇu’s teaching authority converge in one supreme truth.