Kurma
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"Kurma" is also an alternative transliteration of korma.
In Hinduism, Kurma was the second avatar of Vishnu. Like the Matsya Avatara also belongs to the Satya yuga.
Vishnu took the form of a tortoise and sat on the bottom of the ocean after the Great Flood. A mountain was placed on his back by the other gods so that they could churn the sea and find the ancient treasures of the Vedic peoples.
Kurma is also the name of a rishi, the son of Grtsamada.
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[edit] Iconography
The four-armed Kurma Avatara is often shown carrying the symbolic attributes of Vishnu.
The upper-right arm holds the mace of Vishnu, known as Kaumodaki, which literally means "that which inebriates the mind." The mace thus represents the power of knowledge, because knowledge dazzles and intoxicates the mind. Also all physical and mental powers are derived from the power of knowledge. Nothing else can conquer time and itself become the power of time. As such the mace is identified with the goddess Kali, who is the power of time. According to the Krishna Upanishad "The mace is Kali, the power of time. It destroys all that opposes it."
The second right arm holds the lotus. The lotus represents detachment, for though this beautiful flower grows in muddy waters, neither water nor dirt are ever seen sticking to its petals. Like the lotus, Vishnu is the partaker of life's pleasures who never gets ensnared by the charms of the world.
The upper-left hand holds the discus. The discus of Vishnu is known as Sudarshana, which literally means beauteous-sight. It symbolizes a sharp instrument which severs obstacles in the attainment of enlightenment.
The other left hand holds the conch. The conch is the symbol of the origin of existence. It has the form of a multiple spiral evolving from one point into ever-increasing spheres. It is thus associated with the elemental waters. When blown, it produces a sound associated with the primeval sound from which creation developed.
[edit] Samudra manthan
Samudra manthan or "the churning of the ocean of milk" is an interesting legend. In the ancient times, the Devas were mortal. Their enemies were the Asuras. One day, the King of the Devas, Indra was riding his elephant when he came upon sage Durvasa. The sage decided to honor Indra by giving him a scented garland. Indra took the garland, but placed it on the forehead of his elephant. The elephant was irritated by the scent and threw the garland off, then trampling on it. The angry sage gave Indra a curse that he and the Devas would begin to lose all their energy and power. In due course, the Devas started to lose in war against the asuras. Indra was advised to perform Samudra manthan in order to obtain amrita (nectar of immortality) which he and the other Devas could drink and thus be able to defeat the asuras.
[edit] Appeal to Brahma
The Devas feared that the Asuras would take over the whole world. Therefore, they prayed to Brahma, who suggested a solution: churn the Ocean of Milk in order to obtain the Nectar of Immortality. However, the Devas could not churn the Ocean themselves. They struck a temporary truce with their enemies so that all could participate in the churning.
[edit] Churning the mountain
The Ocean was churned by using the mountain Mandara and the snake Vasuki wrapped around it. Each side would hold an end of the snake and pull on it alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn would cause the Ocean to be churned.
However, once the mountain was put on the Ocean, it began to sink. Then, Vishnu incarnated in the form of Kurma (turtle) to support the mountain.
[edit] Halahala
As the ocean was churned, a deadly poison known as Halahala emerged. This poison threatened to suffocate all living things. In response to various prayers, Shiva drank the poison; his wife Parvati, alarmed, stopped it in his throat with her hands. This caused the throat to turn blue. Due to this, he is called NilakanTa ("Nila": Blue, "KanTa":throat). Then, various people, animals, and treasures emerged. These included:
- Sura, goddess and creator of wine
- Apsaras, various divine nymphs
- Kaustubha, the most valuable jewel in the world
- Uchhaishravas, the divine horse
- Kalpavriksha, the wish-granting tree
- Kamadhenu, the first cow and mother of all other cows
- Airavata, the mount of Indra
- Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune and Wealth
[edit] The nectar of immortality
Finally, Dhanavantri, the Heavenly Physician, emerged with a pot containing nectar. As the Asuras rushed to take the nectar, the frightened Devas appealed to Kurma, who then revealed himself as the female avatara of Vishnu, Mohini. The damsel distracted the Asuras, while the Devas secretly drank the amrita. One Asura, Rahu, suspected foul play, disguised himself as a Deva, and drank some Nectar. But before the Nectar could pass his throat, Vishnu cut off the head. The now immortal Devas easily vanquished the Asuras.
[edit] References
| Hinduism | Dashavatara of Vishnu |  |
|---|---|
| Matsya | Kurma | Varaha | Narasimha | Vamana | Parashurama | Rama | Krishna | Balarama | Buddha | Kalki |
