Kūrma

Kurma (literally "the tortoise") is the second incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the classical Dashavatara list, appearing in the form of a giant tortoise. His story is narrated primarily in the Eighth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Kurma descended during the famous churning of the milk ocean (samudra-manthan), a cooperative effort between the demigods (devas) and demons (asuras) to obtain the nectar of immortality (amrita). To churn the ocean, they used the massive Mandara Mountain as a churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as a rope. However, the mountain began to sink into the ocean floor due to its colossal weight and the lack of a firm support. Vishnu then assumed the form of a giant tortoise and positioned Himself beneath Mandara Mountain, His hard shell serving as the stable base upon which the mountain could rotate. In Vaishnava theology, the pastime of Kurma illustrates how God sustains and facilitates the efforts of His devotees, offering His own self as support in difficult endeavors. Meditation on Kurma reminds the bhakti-yoga practitioner of the importance of having a solid, unwavering spiritual foundation in daily sadhana to withstand the turbulence of the material world.