Prayers to Kurma Avathara Of Vishnu

Prayers  to  Kurma  Avathara  Of Vishnu

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

(May  be little long  but  you would not find all  this information   about  God Koorma  Narayana Swami  in same place)

The second  Avathara(incarnation) of Lord Vishnu   is that of Kurma . Lord Vishnu  Took the form of fish   when  Devas  and Asuras   were  churning  the ocean of milk   using   the Mandhara  Parvatha   as the churn.  Due to the undulated  inner surface of the sea, the  mountain started shaking.Lord Vishnu took   the form of tortoise  and placed the mountain on himself

There  are  very few   temples   built   for  the second  of Vishnu   called  Kurma .

1.Sri Kurmam temple  , Sri Kakulam

Legend tells us that in Kritha Yuga, Lord Vishnu appeared as Kurmanatha as he was pleased by the penance of Swetha Maharaja. It is believed that Brahma created this temple along with the holy pond. Sri Kurmam temple is one of the unique Vishnu temples in South India. The idol of Lord Vishnu is a big Saligrama and it is one of the most revered deities in the region. Sri Kurmam Temple is located in the exteriors of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.

2  Gavi  Rangapura  in HOsadurga  , Karnataka

Gavi Rangapura is a small village near the town of Hosadurga in Chitradurga. This village is famous for Gavi Ranganatha Swamy where Lord Vishnu is in the form of tortoise. Yes, the main deity (idol) is a tortoise. Gavi Ranganatha Swamy Temple is actually a cave temple (the sanctum is a cave) which is now a well-developed temple complex. Here Lord Vishnu is worshipped in his Kurmavathara and hence it is one of the unique temples in Karnataka.

3.Kurma  Varadaraja  Temple   in village  Kurmai  in Chittor, AP

Sri Kurma Varadharaja Swamy Temple is one of the ancient temples which has stood the test of times. Hence, it is one of the well-known Vishnu Temples in Andhra Pradesh.

!,The  story of Kurma   Avathara   from Narayaneeyam

Dasakam 27 The churning of ocean of milk and incarnation of tortoise.

(Indra was cursed by Durvasa and became old and weak. Consequently the devas were defeated. Lord Vishnu suggested that they churn the ocean of milk to get nectar using a mountain. When the mountain did not stand steady, Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise and lifted up the mountain.)

Once sage Durvasa gifted a rare divine garland,
That he got from a deva maiden to king Indra,
And later when he came to know that it was,
Destroyed by Indra’s elephant Iravatha,
He became very angry with Indra and cursed him,
Which shows that those who were born out of other devas,
Do not have quality of tolerance like you? 27.1

Then due to that curse, Indra was afflicted by old age,
And he was defeated by asuras as he had lost his vigour,
And consequently Shiva and all other devas went to Lord Brahma,
And along with him all of them came to you,
Oh God , who is the basis of all pleasure. 27.2

Oh God who gives boons, hearing your praises,
Sung by all Devas for a long time, you came before them,
With radiating supreme light, and ordered them,
To reach an understanding with asuras and churn for nectar. 27.3

After Devas reached an understanding with asuras,
When they were taking Mandhara mountain with pride,
Which was designated to be used as the churning stick,
It fell down and you took it easily as if it is a Badara fruit,
Transported it Keeping on Garuda and put it in the ocean of milk. 27.4

Then later Devas and Asuras speedily made Vasuki,
In to rope for churning and when they started to churn the ocean
which was full of seeds of all medicines,
Using deceit you made Asuras sit on ,
Side facing the open mouth of the serpent. 27.5

When the ocean was being churned vigorously thus,
And when the water of the ocean of milk became tumultuous,
Mandhara mountain which was the churning stick,
Due to its very heavy weight , sank in to the sea bed,
Making all devas extremely sad, and you,
To make them happy took the form of a tortoise,
Which had a very hard and tough shelled back. 27.6

Oh Lord Vishnu , you along with back which was harder than diamond,
Which had a width spanning more than one lakh yojanas,
And which was reaching up to the foremost depths of the ocean,
Lifted up the Mandhara mountain which had sunk. 27.7

And when the king of mountains came suddenly up from the water,
All the people there were boisterously happy and started churning,
And you entered in Vasuki as well as people on both sides,
Removed their tiredness and increased their strength and vim. 27.8

Due to the accelerating speed , when the king of the mountain,
Started to raise more and more, you kept your hand on it,
And stopped it from coming very much out of the ocean,
And Brahma , Shiva and others who reached the sky,
Became extremely joyous, showered flowers and praised you. 27.9

When Asuras started suffering due to the hot poisonous smoke,
Emanating from the serpents mouth and devas also suffered slightly,
Due to your grace the clouds showered heavy rain on devas,
And cooled them but this rain did not fall on the asuras. 27.10

With lots of whales and crocodiles moving here and there,
The ocean in spite of lot of churning did not give out anything,
And seeing this you started churning the ocean using Vasuki all alone,
Oh Lord of Guruvayur , please save me from diseases. 27.11

2.Kurma Stotram (To my knowledge this is the  only prayer   addressed  to Kurmavathara)

Kurma Stotram
(Prayer to the incarnation of Tortoise)

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Koorma (Tortoise) is the second incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He took this incarnation to help devas to act as the base for the mandhara mountain which was used to churn the ocean. This rare stotra is taken from a very dilapidated Malayalam stotra book, whose name or publishers are not known to me.)

Namami they deva padaravindam,
Prapanna thapopa samatha pathram,
Yan moola hethou yathayo agna soru,
Samsara dukham Bahiruthkshi panthi. 1

Oh God I salute your lotus like feet,
Which is like an umbrella preventing heat,
Due to its basic reason the learned sages,
Get rid of the sorrows of this world from their mind.

Dhathar dasmin bhava eesa jeevaa,
Sthapathrayeno apahathaa na sarma,
Aathmam labhanthe bhagavamsthvangri,
Cchayaam sa vidhyamara maasreyama. 2

Oh God, please give me relief from the sorrows,
As I will take rest in the shades of your feet,
As no being gets relieved of the three types of suffering,
And these type of sufferings do not come near your feet.

Marganthi yathe mukha padma needai,
Chandha suparnaryashayo vivikthe,
Yasyaghamarshodha saridhwaraya,
Pade padam theertha padam prapanna. 3

Yach sradhaya srutha vathya cha bhakthya,
Samsrujy mane hrudhaye vadhaya,
Jnanena vairagya balena dheera,
Vrujema thathengri Saroja peetam. 4

Oh God , Guided by the birds called Vedas,
Which are used to live in your lotus like face,
Is your holy divine lotus like feet,
Which is searched in solitude by he sages,
Which makes them live in the shores of sacred rivers,
And which they establish in their mind,
By the use of devotion and attention,
As well as which they establish in their heart,
Using the path of wisdom and renunciation,
And we completely surrender to it.

Viswasya janma sthithi samyamarthe,
Krutha avatharasya padambhujam they,
Vrujema sarve saranam yadheesa,
Smrutham prayachathya bhayam swapumsam. 5

For the sake of creation , upkeep and destruction,
Of the world is the incarnation that you took,
And we all surrender to your lotus like feet,
For meditating on it , gives protection to devotees.

Yasyanu bandhe asathi deha gehe,
Mamaha mithyooda duragrahaanaam,
Pumsaam sudhooram vasatho vipuryaam,
Bhajema thathe Bhagawan padabhjam. 6

The man who does not think about you,
Is wrongly too much attached to body, home and self,
And so we are saluting the lotus like feet,
Which exists very , very far away.

Panena they deva kadha sudhaya,
Pravrudha bhakthyaa visa daasayaa ye,
Vairagya saram prathilabhya bodham,
Yadhaanjasanveeyura kunta dhishnyam. 7

Due to the large amount of devotion ,
Some people with a pure heart ,
Hearing your nectar like story ,
Receive great wisdom by renunciation,
And suddenly get that destruction less state.

Thadhapare chathma Samadhi yoga,
Balena jithwa prakruthim balishtaam,
Thwameva dheeraa pursha visanthi,
THesham srama syanna thu sevaya they. 8

Like that others who are very wise,
By the strength of their Athma Samadhi,
Win over the very strong illusion,
And attain you and do not find it difficult.

Thathe vayam loka si sraksha yadhya,
Thwa yanu srushta sthribhirathmabhi sma,
Sarve viyukthaa swa vihara thanthram,
Na saknumasthath prathiharthave they. 9

Thinking that we should serve you like that,
Possibly you have decided to ignore us,
Who have been created by you at the time.
Of creation by Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu,
And we are not able to understand your secret.

Yavad balim theja harama kale,
Yadhaa vayanjanna madhama yathra,
Thadho bhayeshaam tha imehi lokaa,
Balim haranthonna madanthya nooha. 10

Oh God we are providing you with the sacrifice,
And telling your name eat food,
And similarly the ordinary people give you sacrifice,
And eat the food after offering it to you.

Thwam na surname asi saanwayaanaam,
Kootastha aadhya puusha Purana,
Thwam deva shakthyaam guna karma yonow,
Rethsthwajayam kavi rathatheja. 11

Oh God you are the protector of all devas,
You are stable, the first primeval one ,
You are the power of devas ,
You are the birth place and result of everything,
And you have taken up yourself the job of care of the universe,
And for that you have deposited your male power.

Ththo vayam sath pramukhayathathe ,
Bhaboovimathman karavama kim they,
Thwam na swachakshu paridehi shakthya,
Deva kriyatrha yadanugrahaanaam. 12

Oh God what should we the sages do,
To get good results of our intentions,
Please give us the capacity ,
To obey the directions of your blessed sight.

3.Prayers  to Mathsya   avathara    from several  Dasavathara  stotras

Dasa avathara  stotram (Vedantha  DEsika)

Avayasur bhuvana thrayee manibrutham kanduyanai rathrina,
Nidranasya parasya Koorma vapusho nishvasavathormaya,
Yad vikshepana samskrudho dadhi paya prengola paryangika,
Nithyarohana nirvrutho viharathe deva sahaiva sriya. 3

Let all the three worlds be protected by the Lord who took the form of tortoise,
Who when, the great mountain was churned on his back, felt as if it soothed his itching,
And by whose wave like motion the salt waters of the sea rose up and shook
The cot of the Lord, who was ever wakeful and made him play with Goddess Lakshmi

Dasavatara stotra  of Jayadeva

क्षितिरिह विपुलतरे तिष्ठति तव पृष्ठे

धरणि धारण किण चक्र गरिष्ठे

केशव धृत कुर्म शरीर जय जगदीश हरे (2) -2

Kshithiriha   vipulathare  thishtathi  thava  prushte,

Dharai dharana  kina chakra  garishte,

Kesava  drutha korma sareera , jaya  jagadheesa hare

Victory to Keshava, the lord of Universe,
Who assumed the form of a tortoise,
And made the great mountain rest on his back,

And allowed it to churn the ocean like a wheel.

Dasavathara  BHujanga stotra

Dharaa nirjararaathibhradhapara-,
Da koopaara neerathuradha pathanthi,
Drutha korma roopena yena swaprushte,
Sa deva mudhe vosthu seshanga sayee. 2

Let happiness be given by the God who sleeps on Sesha,
Who took the form of tortoise and lifted on his back,
The earth which sank in to water due to ,
The very heavy burden caused by Asuras.

Dasavathara  Storam

(devotee complains  to the Lord  that he is neglecting him)

Yaa thwara mandharodhare
Yaa thwara deva rakshane
Mayyarthe karunamurthe ,
Saa thwara kwa gatha hare. Verse 2

Meaning : Why did you not show the same haste
Which you showed in lifting mandhaara mountain
And which you showed in taking care of devas,
When it did concern with solving my sorrow, Hey Vishnu.

(To retrieve the lost vigour of the devas, it was decided to churn the ocean of milk with the Mandhara mountain , with snake Vasuki as the rope. The mountain was not standing in a stable manner. Lord Vishnu took the form of Tortoise (Koormavathara) and lent stability to the mountain under the sea)

Dasavathara stotram Malayalam

Aamayayi mandaram thangi ninnedunna,
Thamarakannane kai thozhunnen. 2

I salute the Lord with Lotus eyes,
Who became a tortoise and carried Mandara on his back.

Dasavatharaa  Stotram-Poonthanam

.Ichayode sura asura sanchayam,
Swacha varidhi thoyam kadayumbol,
Kachapakruthi kai kondu mevidum,
Viswa vyapiye kanumarakanam.

I would like to see you who pervades all the world,
When you took the form of a turtle ,
When all the devas and Asuras,
Where churning the clear sea with desire. 

Dasavathara  Stotra(?)

Mandhana chala dharana hetho, devasura paripalana bho,
Koormakara sareera namo, Hari bhaktham they paripalaya maam.

He happened to lift the mountain that was used to churn and looked after asuras and devas,
My salutations to him who had the body of a tortoise,
And I request him to look after me who am a devotee of Vishnu

DAsavathara Stotram (K.Padmanabha   Varriar)

Pithru gana sthutham  , dathru sevitham  , drutha  daradharam  , bhootha bhavanam,

Ajitham avyayayam sujana palakam kachapathmakam  bhavayaamyaham

               

2, I cherish him who took the form of a tortoise, who was worshipped  by groups of manes  ,

Who is served by the creator  , who holds the earth  , who determines the future  ,

Who  cannot be defeated, Who does not have any faults   and who  looks after  good people.

Thottuvadheeswara Dasavathara  stotram (Malayalam)

Mandhara parvatham thazhottu  poyannu,

Koormavatharathe poondoru  Kesava ,

Thottvaadheeswawara  Kumbidunnen.

3.On the day when the  Mandhara  mountain  went down,

Oh Kesava, t you took the incarnation of  Tortoise,

Oh Lord  of Thottuva , My salutations to you

Prayer  to protect the son

Karma sakshiyagum jagnnayaga,

Kar mugil varna, karunya varidhe,

Orma kai vitturangum en unniye,

Koorma vigraha palichidenam.                                    6

Oh lord of the universe, who is,

Witness to all actions, Oh Lord,

Of the colour of the  black cloud,

Oh ocean of mercy, please take care,

Of this my son, who is sleeping,

With no care, Oh God who became a tortoise.