Introduction

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

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.

context information

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)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

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.

context information

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 dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical 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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kūrmāvatāra (कूर्मावतार):—[from kūrma] m. the tortoise incarnation (of Viṣṇu).

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Kurma, Avatara.

Full-text: Kurma, Dashavatara.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Kurmavatara, Kurma-avatara, Kūrma-avatāra, Kūrmāvatāra; (plurals include: Kurmavataras, avataras, avatāras, Kūrmāvatāras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)

Chapter 3.8 - Brahma-shirascheda-murti (cutting off Brahma’s head) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]

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Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)

Story of Avatāra

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The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)

Chapter 71 - Viṣṇu’s One Thousand Names (Viṣṇusahasranāma) < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]

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