Thermal analysis of the initial stage of crystal growth from melt reveals the specific temperature distributions which lead to the onset of compressive stress inside the crystal shoulder formed from the initial seed. This compressive stress increases with increase in the shoulder angle. The specific temperature distribution is also characterized by the significantly decreased temperature gradient at the growth interface which may lead to morphological destabilization. The initial stage of growth, i.e. crystal diameter increase from the seed, should be performed at significantly lower pulling rates as compared with the pulling rates applied to the constant diameter crystal. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.