Sri kurmanadha Temple at Srikurmam

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Location :

Temple "Sri kurmanadha Swamy" is at Srikurmam which is a Village near Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located approximately 13 kilometers east of Srikakulam town near the Bay of Bengal Sea. It is in the Gara Mandal of Srikakulam district.

Address : Executive Officer.,Srikurmam Temple, SRI KURMAM - 532404, Srikakulam Dt., A.P., INDIA. Phone Numbers : 09391688445.,09392304040.,08942-283555.,09440955169.,09491573249., 09949242570

పిక్నిక్ స్పాట్ గా శ్రీకూర్మాం :

శ్రీకాకుళం జిల్లా కేంద్రానికి 15 కిలొమీటర్ల దూరములో శ్రీకూర్మాం గ్రామములో ఉన్న శ్రీకూర్మనాధ పుణ్యక్షేత్రము లో దేశములోనే బిన్నము గా ఇక్కడ దేవాలయము లో రెండు ధ్వజస్తంబాలు ఉన్నాయి . ఈ మందిరం లో శిల్పసోభితమైన 24 రాతిస్థంబాలు ఉన్నాయి . అజంతా , ఎల్లోరా గుహల్లో చిత్రాలను పోలిన కుడ్య చిత్రాలు భక్తులను ఆకర్షిస్తాయి . ఇక్కడికి చేరడానికి శ్రీకాకుళం టౌను నుండి కార్లు , ఆటోలు , ట్రక్కర్లు , ప్రతి అర-గంటకు ఒక బస్ ఉన్నాయి . ఈ పుణ్యక్షేత్రానికి దగ్గరిలో బీచ్ , అనేక పచ్చని తోటలు ఉన్నాయి కార్తీకమాసములో పిక్నిక్లు ఈ ప్రాంతములో ఎక్కువగా ఉంటాయి .
కూర్మము నకు కమఠము పర్యాయ పదము.. ఆ పేరు మీదుగా " కమఠపురపతి , కమఠపతి " అనే విధముగా కూడా దేవుని పిలుస్తారు  . కూర్మరాయలు , శ్రీపూర్ణకోటి , కూర్మస్వామి. అని కూడా వ్యవహరిస్తారు.

దేవాలయ ప్రాంగణానికి శ్రీ భాండారమనే వ్యవహారముంది . శ్రీకూర్మానికి " సితగిరి , శ్వేతతీర్ధం , కూర్మగుండం , పూర్ణకోటి " అని కూడా పేర్లున్నాయి.
About :

Sri Kurma-natha, which is the second avatar of Lord Vishnu, Kurma-avatara (Tortoise). This is the only temple of Kurmanatha in India. There is a YogAnandha Narasimhan temple in front of Sri Kurmam temple. Simhachalam Devasthanam adopted this temple for improvement.

The moolasthanam (central piece) is considered to be very big Saligrama. The Turtle (kUrma) has earned an exclusive, known as Sri-kUrmam in the 'sampradAyam'. The 'image' is not a sculpture crafted by man, but the fossil of an actual (large-size) turtle, which must have paddled on to the 'kshEtram' where the shrine has been built.

The head of the diety in the form of a Kurma [tortoise] is represented by a Vishnu namam, the tail being represented by a Saligrama presented by Sanakaracharya.



The artistic beauty of the temple lies in the carvings of vishnu and other diety statues in a glorious way of architecture.

There is a mandapam in front of the temple on simha lion pillars.

One unique feature of this temple is that it has Dhwajastambams in the front and back of the temple. That is because the deity faces the back of the temple on the west and hence the reason for another dhwajastambam.

Sthala puranam :
Lord Mahavishnu manifested Himself in different incarnations right from he creatures to that of divine human forms to protect dharma, righteous people and to punish the wicked. Kurmavatara manifestation is in the form of a tortoise is the second incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu to immortalize the deva.
During Krithqa yuga, devas and auras churned the Ksheera Sagara for nectar using serpent Vasuki as thread and Mandaraparvatha as churning stick. The churning stick of Mandara Parvata slipped and submerged. Devas and auras tried but failed to put it in its right place for smooth churning. Mahavishnu to fulfill the desire of Deva appeared as Kurma and lifted the churning stick of Mandara Parvata on His back and enabled them to Churn Ksheera Sagara and nectar. There are some different stories from the epics and Sthalapurana that depict how Mahavishnu manifested Himself as Kurmanadha at Srikakulam.
According to available legend that delineates the reason for the name of the place as Srikurmam. In ancient days, a couple of Bhillu clan were living in the region that is now called as Srikurmam. Once, the Bhillu lady completed her work in the field and was returning home. She felt thirsty and drank water in a nearby Pushkarini and also had a dip that instilled great energy and devotion in her. Knowing this, her husband too took a dip in the Pushkarini. While he was emerging from the pond, Srikurmanadha appeared before him as an idol with Shanka and Chakra. The Lord told Bhillu to install him and worship with devotion. He informed the same to the then ruler of the region and had the temple built for Srikurmanadha. The Bhillu then renounced worldly pleasures and because deeply devoted to the Lord, begging for final emancipation. The Lord ordained him to go to Sadangamuni Ashram that was on the west side of the temple and lead a useful life for a while to get Moksha. But the Bhillu was reluctant to go away from the vision of the Lord. Srikurmanadha grew kind and turned His face from the East to West as the Bhillu would go to the Ashram which was on the West side of the temple.

Srikurmanadha temple has two flag masts. One in the East and another in the West. The Eastern one is said to be the original and the West one is believed to be raised by Sri Ramanujacharya after the Lord turned His face to the West. Srikurmam is the only temple in the world where the Lord appears in the avatar of 'Kurma'. Devotees have to pass through Mukhamantap to enter the sanctum sanctorum. All can get clear and satisfactory darshan of Srikurmanadha who installed on a raised platform to the South of sanctum sanatorium. Within the temple complex, devotees ca have darshan of Kalabhairava, Sri Venugopalaswamy, Sri Bhagavaddramanujulu, Sri Vyasa Maharshi, Mahalakshmi and Durgadevi.
Kurma gundam :


There is a Pushkarini at a distance, infront of the Kurmanadha temple. It is said that Lord Mahavishnu Himself dug the pool with his Sudarshan Chakra. A bath in the Pushkarini will remove all sins and destroy diseases especially arthritis, rheumatism and body pains. Pitru Karmas are also performed here. The departeed souls take rest in peace in this Kshetra.

Kurmanadha Swamy temple at Srikakulam is splendid and rich with art and architecture. There are 210 pillars in the temple. Every pillar in the temple has its individual identity. The main temple tower is called Padmavimana . The region consisting of the temple area is called Swethachelam. Dolosaava will be observed with traditional pomp and gaiety in the bright half of Trayodasi in the Lunar month of Phalguna on the day of Uttaraphalguni star. Special festivals will be observed in the month of Vaisakha masam on the eve of Sri Kurma Jayanti. Daily worship and archana are performed in the temple.
History

According to inscriptions in the temple dated 1281 A.D, the holy place of Kürma-kshetra, was actually reestablished by Sri Ramanujacharya under the influence of Lord Jagannatha Deva at Jagannatha Puri,Orissa. Later the temple came under the jurisdiction of the King of Vijayanagar. The Deity was worshiped by the Vaishnavas of the Madhvacharya Sampradäya. Some Oriya inscriptions are said to be written by Sri Narahari Teertha, who was in the disciplic succession of Madhvacharya. He later became the ruler of Kalinga Province(ancient Orissa) and fought with the Sabaras, and saved the temple of Kürma. Narahari Tértha was a very religious and powerful king. He died in the Saka Era 1203. The temple was constructed and dedicated to the holy name of YogAnanda Narasimhadeva.This temple was build in the Orissan temple architecture style.

video - srikurmam temple

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