Shri Kurmeswara Temple, Srikurmam.

Srikurmam is a famous temple situated at a distance of about 18 kms to the southeast of Srikakulam town. The village Srikurmam derives its name from the temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the avathara of Sri Kurma viz., the avathara of a tortoise, and hence the deity is called Srikurmanatha. The temple is of very great sanctity, being the only important temple to Lord Vishnu in the Kurmavathara in the whole of India.

Srikurmam is one of the ancient and famous temples in India. As far as our history is concerned, this temple was constructed before 2nd century. In the dynasty of Cholas this temple was developed. According to the history of Kalinga seema, it is specified that after the rule of Cholas, Kalinga Ganga dynasty ruled this area. From the 7th century, this temple was recognized. Srikurmam occupies a unique place for the reason that Srikurmam is the only place where the Lord Vishnu is worshipped in the form of tortoise in India. It is specified that the temple have been developed in different modes under the rule of Gangaraja. As specified in the Silashasanas around the temple, Anangabheema, the successor of Gangaraja dynasty built the floor and top around the temple in 12th century. The architecture of the temple and its pillars are called Gandarva silpa sampada, the temple focused the rule, name and fame of Kalinga and Andhra dynasties.

This world famous temple consists of almost 200 black granite pillars with unique sculpture and two flagpoles (dwjastamdhams).

Historical Background: -

The area of Srikurmam was ruled by many dynasties. After the rule of Cholas Kalingaganga rajas, orissa vikrama gajapatulu, Vijayanagaram kings Anandagajapatulu and their successors ruled.

Historically the stories and miracles of Kurmanatha and Swethachalam are written in Bhramanda purana, Padma purana. The guru Vedavyas Maharshi wrote these puranas. By these two puranas we can know the importance of the God and Temple.

THE MIRACLE EFFECTS OF THE KSHETRA AND THEERTHA:

Once Devendra mistook Srikurmanatha for someone engaged in deep penance trying to seize his throne and sent Tillotama, the Apsara, to disturb him. Tillotama took bath in the Puskarani and after seeing the Lord, she decided to be here forever in the service of Lord.

At the long absence of Tillotama, a Gandharva was sent in search of her. Tillotama went again to Devendra and was asked by him to dance. Her dance made the gathered audience loose their consciousness. The Rishis recovered their senses, but one among them, Chaitratapa could not stop thinking of the dancer and the other Rishis laughed at him. Out of terrible wrath Chairtratapa cursed them and they became Asses.
Tillotama again came down and she took head bath in the Pushakarani and she was drying her hair. The asses, the transformed Rishis were grazing at the Puskarini; Drops of water from her hair fell on the asses and turned them into Rishis. This incident is described in the twentieth Chapter of Padma purnam from Swetha Girimahatyam.

Sri Hari faces towards Western side: -

The people of Srikurmam felt that the Lord was Shiva and not Vishnu, as Ramanujacharya wanted to prove that, he stood behind the idol and asked the Lord to turn towards him if He is Vishnu. The Lord turned to the western direction. This fact is found in the Acharya Suktamuktavali. Now there are two Dwaja stambhas (FLAG POLES) one in the East and other in the West of the temple. The Eastern one was the original and Ramnujacharya raised that in the West after the God turned his face to the West.

Mythological Story: -

According to Padma Puranam Sri Kurmanatha temple existed before Krutha Yuga, on the mountain region of Swethachala. Maharshi Vedavyasa revealed this story to Dattila Maharshi.

Once up on a time King Swetha Chakravarthi ruled this area. This area was called Swethapuram; his wife was Hari priya (other name Vishnu Priya). Vanitamandalam was the place where the queen’s palace exited nearly 14 km from the Swethapuram. It was on a Magaa suddha ekadasi (it also known as Bheeshma ekadasi) day that Swetha Chakravathi visited his queen in her palace. She was immersed herself in Lords worship by fasting and leaving all her luxury, there was a tradition maintained that whenever the king wanted to go to the palace, first of all he must intimate and take permission from the queen. But the king went to the palace with out any intimation, and expressed his desire for her company. The queen was in a dilemma whether to give company her husband or to participate in worship. She prayed to the Lord as her mind was troubled by the duel importance of the idea.

Then the lord Vishnu created a great river to flow between the King and queen to divide them. And the river at present is called as Vamsadhara, which means a flow from a bamboo stick. Then the king ran to escape from the river flow and the king reached the Swethachala Mountain and sat alone with a great melancholy for his uncontrollable emotions. At that time Naradha appeared there and said that when women were approaching lord Kurmanatha by worshiping him men were getting away from him due to general temptations and explained that this was because of his wife who prayed Kurmanatha to save her from that pathetic situation. And he also suggested him to worshiping Lord Kurmanatha and preached the hymn (OM KUM KURMAAYA NAMAHA). Then the king started worshipping Kurmanatha at Chakra Thirtha.

Then Lord Vishnu appeared and asked him to ask for a boon. The king said that he wished to see Lord in his second incarnations of Kurmanatha (Tortoise form). Then the God asked for the explanation why he wanted to see him in second incarnation?
The king answered that he wanted see the incarnation because it was worked as base for the Manthara Parvatha at the time of churning the Kshirasagara by using the snake Vasuki as a thread to obtain Amrutha (a drink to become immortal) and that is why that incarnation is called as Amrutha Kurmanatha.

On the request of the king Lord Kurmanatha resided there in the form of Kurmanatha (Tortoise shape). Sri Hari gave his consent for temple to be constructed by the king. Narada led the King to Brahma who visited the temple and installed Kurmanatha with divine Mantra. Sudarsana Chakra took active effect and flames of burning fire arose. Brahma subdued the flames by the soothing effects of Gopalamantra.
According to Bramandapurana Durvasa Maharsi and their followers visit this place for penance. Lord Krishna’s brother Balarama visited this place and declared that this temple is the one and only temple on this earth. And in Srikakulam he built Uma Rudra Koteswara temple on the bank of river the Nagavali. Balarama created this Nagavali by his plough (nagali) so it is called Nagavali, in Sanskrit it is also called as Langalyavati.

Lava Kusha are the sons of God Sri Rama visited and worshiped the Kurmanatha by offering Abhishakam they got relief from the effect of planet Saturn (Shanidosham). Vakrangada maharsi constructed hermitage and did penance with his Disciples.
Jayadev the writer of Astapadi (about the god Krishna) visited the temple with the grace of god he started writing Astapadi and settled in Puri.

Historical Importance of the Temple: -

According to our ancient sayings at first this temple worshiped by the saivites as Lord Siva. Ramanujacharya, Adi Sankaracharya, and Madvacharyas disciple Narahari thirtha were among those who worshiped the Lord. In the 12th century Narahari thirtha built Yoga Narshimha Peetham. The disciple of Sankaracharya placed Sudarsana Saligrama at the tail part of Kurmanatha.

Important Aspects of the Temple: -
1. God is Western faced.
2. Two-dwajastamba temple.
3. Total sculpture is Gandara sculpture.
4. Near about 210 pillars.
5. Every pillar has its individual identity.
6. Total inscriptions are 127 in four languages.(Devanagari, Prakrutha and Oriya Languages)
7. Main temple tower is called Padma Vimanam (Gandarava Vimanam).
8. This temple total region is called Swethachalam (white soil mountain region).
9. Human bones dissolve in this Swetha puskarini water with in weekdays it means this water has chemical properties.

Location: SriKurmam, Andhra Pradesh

Transportation: Srikurmam is 18miles from Srikakulam railway station in Walter - Kolkata railway route.

Near by Temples: Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Simhachalam, Sun temple at Arasavalli, and Mukhalingeswara temple at Mukhalingam. Sri Rama Kshetram and Sri Padmanaba Kshetram are the two famous Vaishnava sthalas situated in Walter – Srikurmam bus route.