Kurma Purana
Also known as: Kūrma Purāṇa, Kurmapurana, Kurma-Purana


A Mahāpurāṇa centered on the Kurma (Tortoise) aspect of Viṣṇu, compiling cosmogony, dynastic genealogies, sacred geography, rites, and theology. Its two parts blend Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva materials, including the Ishvara Gita, pilgrimage mahatmyas, and narratives like the Ocean Churning.
Description
The Kurma Purana presents an encyclopedic survey of Hindu sacred knowledge framed by the Kurma (tortoise) manifestation of Viṣṇu. It treats creation cycles, manvantaras, and genealogies of gods and kings alongside dharma topics, ritual prescriptions, vratas, and festival observances. Distinctive sections exalt tirthas and kshetras—especially Kurmakshetra—linking sacred geography with soteriological merit. Notably, the text preserves the Ishvara Gita, a Śaiva instructional discourse paralleling the Bhagavad Gita in form but addressed by Śiva. Though named for a Vaiṣṇava avatar, the compilation exhibits sectarian inclusivity, embedding hymns, myths, and mahatmyas that circulated across regional recensions.
Historiography
Surviving manuscripts attest significant variation between Northern and Southern recensions; most complete witnesses are South Indian. Internal evidence and style indicate layered growth, with older cosmological cores and later tirtha-mahatmyas and ritual chapters. The Ishvara Gita section reflects Śaiva doctrinal interpolation within a broadly Vaiṣṇava frame. Early printed editions and the MLBD AITM translation helped normalize a two-part structure (Purvabhaga/Uttarabhaga), though chapter counts and order differ across copies.
Date Notes
Composite text with multiple redactions; extant South Asian manuscripts reflect substantial medieval interpolation and reordering.
Themes
Archetypes
Major Characters
- Vishnu
- Shiva
- Brahma
- Parvati
- Indra
Myths
- The Kurma Incarnation
- The Churning of the Ocean
- Cosmology and Genealogies of the Ages
Facts
- Classed among the eighteen Mahapuranas.
- Survives mainly in South Indian recensions with notable chapter-order variation.
- Named for Vishnu’s Kurma (tortoise) manifestation but contains substantial Shaiva material.
- Preserves the Ishvara Gita, a didactic discourse by Shiva.
- Blends cosmology, genealogy, ritual, and sacred geography (tirtha-mahatmya).
- Often organized into Purvabhaga and Uttarabhaga.
- Cites and summarizes dharma topics including vratas, samskaras, and royal duties.
- Provides lists of avatars and deities alongside hymns and stotras.
- Highlights Kurmakshetra as a major pilgrimage site.
- Verse counts in manuscripts vary widely; a common traditional figure is about 17,000 shlokas.