Kurmavatara, the second avatar of Lord Vishnu, is depicted as a tortoise (kurma). In Hindu mythology, Vishnu takes this form to support Mount Mandara during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean of milk). This event was a collaborative effort between the devas (gods) and asuras (demons) to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality. The gods and demons needed a way to churn the ocean of milk to obtain amrita. They used Mount Mandara as a churning rod and Vasuki, the serpent, as the churning rope.
Mount Mandara was too heavy to be used as a churning rod on its own. To provide support, Vishnu incarnated as a tortoise (Kurma) and bore the mountain on his back.
It came into existence as half tortoise and half human. It is depicted in the sea water, holding up the mount Mandara.
There are 5 Kurma temples. However out of these Srikurmam is the only one mentioned in the ancient scriptures. The rest were of recent antiquity.
Sri Kurmam Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh
Kurma Varadharaja Swamy Temple: Village of Kurmai, near Palamaner, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh
Sri Gavi Ranganatha Swamy Temple: Chitradurga, Karnataka.
Swarupnarayan Goghat village, Hooghly district, West Bengal.
Amamangalam Maha Vishnu Temple Kakkur, Calicut District, Kerala.
