Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिङ्गः मध्यमेश्वरमुत्तमम् / विश्वेश्वरं तथोङ्कारं कपर्देश्वरमेव च

Transliteration

kṛttivāseśvaraṃ liṅgaḥ madhyameśvaramuttamam / viśveśvaraṃ tathoṅkāraṃ kapardeśvarameva ca

Translation

圣妙的湿婆林伽有：克利提瓦塞湿伐罗（Kṛttivāseśvara）、殊胜的中间湿伐罗（Madhyameśvara）、毗湿维湿伐罗（Viśveśvara）、同样还有嗡迦罗（Oṅkāra），以及迦帕尔德湿伐罗（Kapardeśvara）。

Word by Word

• कृत्ति-वास-ईश्वरम्: Kṛttivāseśvara
• कृत्ति-वास-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'Lord (associated with) bark-garment dwelling/attire')

• लिङ्गः: the liṅga
• लिङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• मध्यम-ईश्वरम्: Madhyameśvara
• मध्यम-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'Middle Lord')

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); मध्यमेश्वरम् इति विशेषणम्

• विश्व-ईश्वरम्: Viśveśvara
• विश्व-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'Lord of the universe')

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

• ओङ्कारम्: Oṅkāra (name/title)
• ओङ्कारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• कपर्द-ईश्वरम्: Kapardeśvara
• कपर्द-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्द (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'Lord with matted hair/topknot')

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निश्चयार्थक/अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the Kurma Purana’s tirtha and linga enumeration to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva-linga
• Kṛttivāseśvara
• Madhyameśvara
• Viśveśvara
• Oṅkāra
• Kapardeśvara
• Oṃ (Praṇava)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by naming liṅgas such as Viśveśvara and Oṅkāra, the verse points to Śiva as the all-pervading Lord and as Praṇava (Oṃ), a symbol used in yoga to contemplate the one Reality beyond forms—Atman/Brahman approached through Īśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse is primarily tirtha/linga-oriented, but the inclusion of “Oṅkāra” aligns with praṇava-japa and īśvara-dhyāna—classical disciplines also emphasized in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva framework (often linked with Pāśupata-style devotion and restraint).

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

By presenting Śiva as Viśveśvara and as Oṅkāra within a Vaiṣṇava Purana (Kurma as a form of Viṣṇu), it reflects the text’s integrative theology: devotion to Śiva’s liṅga is treated as a valid path within the same puranic universe that venerates Viṣṇu.