Shri Kurma Jayanti 1991

Shri Kurma Jayanti commemorates the appearance of Lord Vishnu's second avatar, Kurma (the divine tortoise), observed on Vaishakha Purnima.

According to the Puranic legend, the Devas and Asuras once churned the cosmic ocean of milk (Samudra Manthan) in search of Amrita, the nectar of immortality, using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the rope. But Mount Mandara, lacking a firm base, began to sink into the ocean. To support it, Lord Vishnu took the form of Kurma, a colossal tortoise, and dived beneath the ocean to bear the mountain's full weight upon his back, allowing the churning to continue.

The churning eventually yielded fourteen precious treasures, including Goddess Lakshmi, the celestial elephant Airavata, the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu, and finally Dhanvantari bearing the pot of Amrita itself. Kurma's steady, unmoving support throughout the churning is remembered as a symbol of patience and firm foundation beneath great endeavour.