We continue our virtual tour of Andhra pradesh-where we have visited Ahobilam, Tirupathi, Tiruchanoor and Govindraja perumal Temple at Lower Tirupathi.
Sri Kurmam is our next destination.
In the battle between the gods and asuras, on one occasion the gods suddenly lost all their strength due to the curse of sage Durvasa (Durvasa ) This sage had once presented a garland of flowers to Indira who carelessly threw away the same on his elephant -EAIRAWATHAM which trampled it. Therefore all gods lost their strength and were dominated by Asuras.
Then Devtas approached Vishnu for help. Vishnu instructed gods to churn the ocean of milk (Ksheera sagaram) by adding medicines (Aushadham) into the ocean. Mountain Mandara was used as churning stick. HE also told gods to take the help of Asuras in lifting the mountain in exchange to offer them part of nectar of immortality- Amritham - Both the devatas and the asuras churned the ocean using king of serpents (Vasuki) as a rope. Indira, king of the gods asked Asuras to hold the tail part of Vasuki during churning. But asuras suspected foul play of Indira, decided to hold the head part. But as the churning process went on, the Mountain started sinking and then Lord Vishnu took the avatar of a Tortoise-KURMA and kept the mountain afloat. As soon as the bowl of amritam (the nectar of immortality) was out, the asuras grabbed it. Then Lord Vishnu disguised himself as an apsara (beautiful maiden) and seduced the asuras into letting her distribute the nectar and also to abide by her order of distribution. As soon as devatas were served with amrith, the maiden disappeared thus totally deceiving asuras and making them totally weak.
In India- only in Andhra Pradesh a temple for lord Kurma has been built and this temple is in a Village near Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India. One unique feature of this temple is that it has two Dhwajastambams (Big Pillar structures) in the front and back of the temple which is very rare. That is because the deity faces the back of the temple on the west and hence the reason for another dhwajastambam.
The object of Kurma Avatara was to enable the recovery of precious things which were lost in the randomness of life and thus to enjoy the spiritual and worldly life simultaneously. Kurma homam is performed on Kurma jayanthi day for recovery of lost precious things of life.
The moolasthanam (central piece) is considered to be very big Saligrama. The Turtle (kurma) has earned an exclusive, known as Sri-kurmam in the 'sampradayam'. The 'image' is not a sculpture crafted by man, but the fossil of an actual (large-size) turtle, which must have paddled on to the 'kshetram' where the shrine has been built. One unique feature of this temple is that it has Dhwajastambams in the front and back of the temple. That is because the deity faces the back of the temple on the west and hence the reason for another dhwajastambam.
According to inscriptions in the temple dated 1281 A.D, the holy place of Kürma-kshetra, was actually reestablished by Sri Ramanujacharya under the influence of Lord Jagannatha Deva at Jagannatha Puri,Orissa. Later the temple came under the jurisdiction of the King of Vijayanagar. The Deity was worshiped by the Vaishnavas of the Madhvacharya Sampradäya. Some Oriya inscriptions are said to be written by Sri Narahari Teertha, who was in the disciplic succession of Madhvacharya. He later became the ruler of Kalinga Province(ancient Orissa) and fought with the Sabaras, and saved the temple of Kürma. Narahari Tértha was a very religious and powerful king. He died in the Saka Era 1203. The temple was constructed and dedicated to the holy name of Yogananda Narasimhadeva.This temple was build in the Orissan temple architecture style. The intricate carvings on the black granite pillars of parikrama is a special attraction to lovers of sculpture. 42 mural paintings of lord Krishna adorn the walls of the parikrama.
Edited by R.Jagannathan.
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