Kūrma Purāṇa

The Kūrma Purāṇa is one of the eighteen major Purāṇas, named after the Kūrma (tortoise) avatāra of Vishnu, who assumed this form to support Mount Mandara during the churning of the cosmic ocean.

Overview

The text contains approximately 17,000 verses and covers cosmology, mythology, and religious practices. It is devoted primarily to the worship of Shiva and contains extensive material on the nature of reality and the path to liberation.

Content and Structure

The Kūrma Purāṇa describes the Kūrma avatāra and the churning of the ocean of milk (Kṣīra Sāgara), one of the most celebrated myths in Hindu cosmology. It contains sections on the creation of the universe, the nature of time, the qualities of the Supreme Being, and the classification of temples. The text also includes hymns to Shiva and instructions for his worship.

Significance

The text is significant for its philosophical sections on the nature of reality (tattva-jñāna), which influenced later Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava theology. Its account of the Samudra Manthana (churning of the ocean) became one of the most popular subjects in Indian art and temple sculpture.

Verification Notes

• Classified as a Mahāpurāṇa; the received text may be a later compilation.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).