Kurmavatara, aka: Kūrmāvatāra, Kurma-avatara; 3 Definition(s)
Introduction
Kurmavatara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Kūrmāvatāra (कूर्मावतार) refers to the “tortoise incarnation” of Viṣṇu and was once depicted and worshipped in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—The Kūrma incarnation is not referred to directly in the Nīlamata. Kūrma occurs as a place-name in the list of the tīrthas dedicated to Viṣṇu and this indicates the recognition of the Kūrma incarnation in Kaśm īra, at that time.
Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Kūrmāvatāra (कूर्मावतार) or Kūrma is one of the daśāvatāra (ten incarnations) of Viṣṇu, is found depicted at the Kallazhagar Temple in Madurai, which represents a sacred place for the worship of Viṣṇu.—The god Kūrmāvatāra is represented with the lower part as tortoise’s feet and the upper part in the usual form of the god. The god in this form is found with four arms where the upper hands hold the discus and the conch, and the other two right and left hands are in abhaya and dolā-hasta respectively.
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Kūrmāvatāra (कूर्मावतार).—the Kūrma incarnation of Viṣṇu; cf. Gīt.1 :-क्षिति- रतिविपुलतरे तव तिष्ठति पृष्ठे धरणिधरणकिणचक्रगरिष्ठे । केशवधृत- कच्छरूप जय जगदीश हरे (kṣiti- rativipulatare tava tiṣṭhati pṛṣṭhe dharaṇidharaṇakiṇacakragariṣṭhe | keśavadhṛta- kaccharūpa jaya jagadīśa hare) ||
Derivable forms: kūrmāvatāraḥ (कूर्मावतारः).
Kūrmāvatāra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kūrma and avatāra (अवतार).
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Relevant definitions
Search found 153 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Kurma | 1) Kūrma (कूर्म, “tortoise”) refers to one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories... | |
| Avatara | Avatāra (अवतार).—n. (-raṃ) 1. Descent, especially of a deity from heaven; the appearance of any... | |
| Dashavatara | Daśāvatāra (दशावतार).—m. (-raḥ) A name of Vishnu. E. daśa ten, and avatāra descent; the deity o... | |
| Kurmasana | Kūrmāsana (कूर्मासन) refers to a type of Āsana (sitting poses), according to Ganapati Stha... | |
| Kurmapurana | Kūrmapurāṇa (कूर्मपुराण).—One of the eighteen Purāṇas. (See under Purāṇas). | |
| Matsyavatara | Matsyāvatāra (मत्स्यावतार) or Matsya is one of the daśāvatāra (ten incarnations) of Viṣṇu, is f... | |
| Kurmanadi | Kurma Nadi is located in the upper chest below the throat. “By Samyama on the Kurma Nadi comes ... | |
| Ankavatara | Aṅkāvatāra (अङ्कावतार).—when an act, hinted by persons at the end of the preceding act, is brou... | |
| Narasimhavatara | Narasiṃhāvatāra (नरसिंहावतार) or Narasiṃha is one of the daśāvatāra (ten incarnations) of Viṣṇu... | |
| Amshavatara | Aṃśāvatāra (अंशावतार).—The incarnation of God on earth is called avatāra. When the incarnation ... | |
| Uttanakurmasana | Uttānakūrmāsana (उत्तानकूर्मासन) is one of the eighty-four āsanas (postures) taught by Śiva, ac... | |
| Varahavatara | Varāhāvatāra (वराहावतार) or Varāha is one of the daśāvatāra (ten incarnations) of Viṣṇu, is fou... | |
| Kurmanatha | Kūrmanātha (कूर्मनाथ) is the name of the Kula-tantra Guru in the tretāyuga.—Abhinavagupta descr... | |
| Krishnavatara | Kṛṣṇāvatāra (कृष्णावतार) or Kṛṣṇa is one of the daśāvatāra (ten incarnations) of Viṣṇu, is foun... | |
| Vamanavatara | Vāmanāvatāra (वामनावतार) or Vāmana is one of the daśāvatāra (ten incarnations) of Viṣṇu, is fou... |
Relevant text
Search found 1 books and stories containing Kurmavatara, Kūrmāvatāra or Kurma-avatara. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 71 - Viṣṇu’s One Thousand Names (Viṣṇusahasranāma) < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]