History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c90.190

v7.c90.190

*Kūrma*—(Venk. Press ed.); is divided into Pūrvārdha (53 chapters) and Uttarārdha (46 chapters); vide H in 'Purānas in history of Smṛti' I. C. vol. I. pp. 587-614 and in 'Smṛti chapters of Kūrma' in I. H Q. vol. XI. pp. 265-286 and P.R.H.R pp 57-75, H. holds that it was originally a Pāñcarātra work, but was altered to make it a Pāśupata one. In several passages the Kūrma speaks of God as one (II. 11. 112-115), but divided into two, Nārāyana and Brahmā (in I 9. 40) or as Viṣṇu and Śiva (in I 2. 95) or in three (as in I. 10. 77). The Sm. C. I. p. 199 quotes verses from I 2 94, 95, 97-99 which allow a person to worship either Viṣṇu with the mantra (Rg I. 22. 20 or X. 90) or Śiva with Rudragāyatrī, Rudras (Tai. S. IV. 5. 1-11) or 'Tryambakam' (Rg VII 59 12, Tai S. I 8. 6. 2.) or with 'Om namaḥ Śivāya'. The Sm C quotes from Kūrma about 94 verses on āhnika and 19 on śrāddha In I 1. 21-22 it states that there were four saṃhitās of the Purāṇa viz Brāhmī, Bhāgavatī, Saurī and Vaiṣṇavī and that the present one is the Brāhmī in 6000 verses, the Nāradīya (I. 106 1-22) furnishes a summary of the other three saṃhitās. Padma (Pātālakhaṇḍa 102. 41-42 )1414c expressly names the Kūrma and quotes a verse from it. Kalpataru (on śrāddha p. 119) quotes two verses from it. Aparārka (pp 201, 204, 207) quotes three verses from Kūrma (all in relation to fast).