Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

महादेवाय महते ज्योतिषे ऽनन्ततेजसे / नमः शिवाय शान्ताय ब्रह्मणे लिङ्गमूर्तये

Transliteration

mahādevāya mahate jyotiṣe 'nantatejase / namaḥ śivāya śāntāya brahmaṇe liṅgamūrtaye

Translation

顶礼大天摩诃提婆：广大至上，自为光明，辉耀无尽；顶礼寂静的湿婆，顶礼梵本身，其形即林伽。

Word by Word

• महादेवाय: to Mahādeva (the great god)
• महादेवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान् देवः

• महते: to the great
• महते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ज्योतिषे/तेजसे)

• ज्योतिषे: to the light
• ज्योतिषे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; सकारान्त-प्रातिपदिक

• अनन्त-तेजसे: to the one of endless splendor
• अनन्त-तेजसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—अनन्तं तेजः यस्य/अनन्तं तेजः (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

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

• 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)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• 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

Speaker

A narrator/devotee voice within the Purāṇic discourse (stotra-style praise in the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Brahman
• Linga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying Śiva with “Brahman” and “Light (jyotis),” the verse points to the Supreme as formless consciousness-luminosity, approached through a sacred symbol (liṅga) yet ultimately transcending form.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports jyotis-dhyāna (meditation on the inner light) and īśvara-praṇidhāna (devotional surrender to the Lord), where the liṅga functions as a stable focus leading the mind toward the peaceful, non-dual Brahman.

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

By using Brahman-language for Śiva and emphasizing universal “Light,” it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology where sectarian forms serve as gateways to the same Supreme Reality—harmonizing Shaiva devotion with broader Purāṇic non-dualism.