Vishnu’s Kurma avatara or Vishnu taking the form of a giant turtle/tortoise appear in the Samudra Manthana or Churning of Milk ocean episode.
The narration of this episode varies from Valmiki Ramayana to Puranas. However, the following core parts of the story remain the same.
- The Divinities (Gods) and Rakshasas (Demons) start churning the ocean, with the help of Mandara Hill as the churning stick and the giant serpent Vasuki as the churning rope.
- When the mountain began to sink into the ocean floor, Lord Vishnu took his second avatar, Kurma (the giant tortoise), to hold the mountain on his back
- Haalahala (the great destructive poison) emerges first, and Shiva gulps it, to protect the world
- Finally, Amrita appears
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The Samudra Manthan narration has precursors first in the Rig Veda, then in the Shatapatha Brahmana, albeit told with a spiritual connotation.
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Rig Veda 10.136.7 says Keśīn experiencing DIVINE BLISS (drinking Visha) along with Rudra.
viṣa has the meaning of poison as well as water/ or cosmic poison/potency. In Rig Vedic symbolism, water indicates the DIVINE BLISS or splendor.
The verse signifies the advanced yogi's ability to absorb intense cosmic energies or altered states of consciousness (divine bliss) without harm.
वायुरस्मा उपामन्थत्पिनष्टि स्मा कुनन्नमा । केशी विषस्य पात्रेण यद्रुद्रेणापिबत्सह ॥
vāyur asmā upāmanthat pinaṣṭi smā kunannamā | keśī viṣasya pātreṇa yad rudreṇāpibat saha ||English translation:
“Vāyu churned for Keśīn, the inflexible (thunder) ground it when the radiant (Sun), along with Rudra, drank the viṣa with his cup (experienced DIVINE BLISS).”
Rig Veda 1.67.5 says about AGNI supporting the earth and heaven.
अजो न क्षां दाधार पृथिवीं तस्तम्भ द्यां मन्त्रेभिः सत्यैः ॥
ajo na kṣāṃ dādhāra pṛthivīṃ tastambha dyām mantrebhiḥ satyaiḥ ||English translation:
Like Aja (Ekapad) he supports the broad earth; he props up heaven with mantras that come true.
Rig Veda 4.1.11 says apād aśīrṣā guhamāno antāyoyuvāno vṛṣabhasya nīḻe (the BRAHMAN has no limbs or head, indicating the BRAHMAN as the formless Energy).
स जायत प्रथमः पस्त्यासु महो बुध्ने रजसो अस्य योनौ । अपादशीर्षा गुहमानो अन्तायोयुवानो वृषभस्य नीळे ॥
sa jāyata prathamaḥ pastyāsu maho budhne rajaso asya yonau | apād aśīrṣā guhamāno antāyoyuvāno vṛṣabhasya nīḻe ||English translation:
He was born first in the dwelling places, at the base of this great realm, as his womb, footless, headless, concealing his two ends, continually retracting (his limbs, in the nest of the bull.
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The above concepts of concepts BRAHMAN being the formless, was mentioned as a tortoise, which can withdraw its limbs inwards, in Shatapatha Brahmana Kanda VII, adhyaya 5, brahmana 1 verse 5.
And as to its being called 'kūrma' (tortoise);Prajāpati, having assumed that form, created living beings. Now what he created, he made; and inasmuch as he made (kar), he is (called) 'kūrma;' and 'kūrma' being (the same as) 'kaśyapa' (a tortoise), therefore all creatures are said to be descended from Kaśyapa.
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This spiritual concept was portrayed in Puranas, as Vishnu taking the form of a physical Tortoise and supporting Mandhara hill, and Shiva drinking poison, in Samudra Manthan episode.
