The visit to this Sri
Kurmanathaswamy Temple at Srikurmam was a part of the “Kalinga and Ottara Desa
Heritage Walk” organized by சோழ மண்டல வரலாற்றுத் தேடல் குழு between 13th to 18th September 2024. The purpose of this Heritage walk was to see the places,
monuments, etc., which are directly or indirectly connected as a proof of
Rajendra Chozha’s victory mentioned in his meikeerthi/title over Kalinga and
Ottara Desa, the present Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
This is a unique temple
dedicated to Kurma (Tortoise), the second of Maha Vishnu’s ten avatars. The
temple claims that this Srikurmam is the only Indian temple in the world where Vishnu is
worshiped in his Kurma (tortoise) avatar.
Moolavar : Sri Kurmanatha Swamy
Thayar : Sri Lakshmi as Kurmanayaki
Some of the salient features of
this temple are…
The temple arch is on the roadside. The temple is facing east with
Rajagopurams, in the South and North Directions. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam
are in the east and West Directions. (The west side Dwajasthambam was installed
after Ramanuja’s Visit- It is believed that Ramanuja made Maha Vishnu turn
west side), but there is no entrance on the west side. Dwarapalakas are at the
entrance of the temple on the east side. A Mandapam and the temple tank are in
front of the temple.
Sanctum Sanctorum has both
a Kurma (tortoise) image and the anthropomorphic Vishnu with Lakshmi. The
Moolavar is of swayambhu made of black stone, but due to regular applications
of sandalwood paste, it appears yellow. Moolavar is on a platform made of stone
with a length of 5 feet, a height of 1 foot, and a width of 4 feet. The
platform stone representing the head faces the west, the middle represents the
body of the tortoise, and the small stone at the rear end, covered with swirling
circles, represents either the tail of the tortoise or the Sudarshana Chakra.
Interestingly this lingam is to the south side of the Sanctum Sanctorum facing
west. In Devakoshtas Maha Vishnu,
Gajalakshmi, Ganesa, Durga, Trivikrama, and Narasimha.
PC: Website
In Praharam, Vahanas, Thayar
Kurmanayaki, Lakshmi Narayana, Alwars, and a closed tunnel room to Varanashi.
The temple mandapam walls have
niches with the Vaishnava images and murals, but also have Shiva, Ganesha,
Sakthi, Durga, Hatakeswara, Karpureswara, Koteswara, Sundareswara, and
Pathalasiddheswara are as the temple's
guardian deities.
In the 12th Century CE, Utsava images of Govindaraja Swamy and his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi were found
in the Swetha Pushkarani. The Utsava deities of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana were
presented by Naraharitirtha. All these deities are kept in a locked Room near
the sanctum sanctorum and regular poojas are done along with the main deity.
The temple also contains 42 mural
paintings of Krishna on its walls, similar to Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
On the temple's premises, a tortoise park is maintained by NGO Green
Mercy. As of September 2015, the temple hosted a total of 255 tortoises.
Devotees offer tortoises from surrounding hills and fields here. Devotees feed
gongura leaves to the tortoises.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple was built in a fusion of
Kalinga and Dravidian styles of Architecture. The temple consists of Sanctum
Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum
is on a pada bandha adhistanam and a Prati bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, Kumudam, Pattikai, and Prativari. The Bhitti starts with vedika. In Devakoshtas Maha Vishnu,
Gajalakshmi, Ganesa, Durga, Trivikrama, and Narasimha. Deva koshtas are guarded
by Elephant riders, on both sides. The Koshtas are padra koshtas. Apart from
Devakoshtas, Koshtas with murtis are also in the salilantharam / Aharai. The
Pilasters are like Dravida style pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals
mandi, palakai and Pothyal. The prastaram consists of Valapi, kapotam, and
Viyyalavari. In Viyyalavari instead of Viyyala, Elephant heads are shown with
raised trunks.
The Vimanam above the
prastaram is built in the form of an ashtadala padmam (eight-petaled
lotus). Even though the format and components are similar to a chaturtala, Dravida octagonal shikhara, and Dravida Vimana. Makes the Vimana as 8 tiers. 8
Maha Nasis and 8 Alpa Nasis are on the Sigaram. The nasis have an arch in the
type of Kalingan Bho (cow’s eye) instead of the traditional Dravida arch of
yazhis head. The Sudarsana Chakra is in place of Kalasam.
In between the normal kapotas, on the back wall of the next level, above the pillar
there is a kalinga style Pidha & Potala kind of flat roof - so 4 kapotam +
4 potala makes this 8 tier.
Mandapa was supported by 108 exquisitely
carved stone pillars where no pillar is similar to the other. The Deva Koshtas are with two elephant riders on
both sides. The Sculptures are intricately carved.
The temple has century-old Orissan
Pattachitra-style mural paintings on the side wall of Pradakshina mandapa.
PC: Website
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple was built by whom, is not known and the present structure is about 700 years old. Initially, this
temple was dedicated to Shiva and referred to as Kurmeswara Temple, Ramanuja is
said to have converted into a Vaishnavite temple in 1035 CE. But as per the
records, in 1103 CE Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva (1077-1150 CE) of the Eastern
Ganga Dynasty of Odisha converted this temple to a Vaishnava kshetra from a
Siva temple. Later the temples perambulatory were constructed along with
Kurmanayaki’s sannidhi.
King Anangabhima Deva III, (who
completed Puri temple) constructed the Prakara mandapa around the main temple and 108 ekasila (single-stone) pillars.
Further renovations are done by Gajapati kings
According to an inscription at
Sri-Kurmam, Rajaraja of the Eastern Chalukya family was a minister of Narasimha
I.
According to another inscription
at the same place, a person named Sahasa-Malla made a grant at this temple
during the reign of Narasimha I in 1251 CE. According to the Bhubaneśvar inscription,
now in the Royal Asiatic Society, Narasimha's brother-in-law, the Haihaya
Prince Paramardin, fell fighting the battles of the King. Paramardin had
married Chandrika, a daughter of Anangabhima II. This Chandrikā built a temple
of Vishņu at Bhubaneśvar in the Saka year 1200-1278 CE, during the reign of her
brother's grandson, Narasimha II. A work on Alankara called Ekāvali was
composed in the reign of Narasimha-I by a person named Vidyādhara in which
Narasimha is called "The master of the kingdom.
The Display of the Proofs of
Invasion.
During the 11th to 17th
Century, many Moghul Emperors from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Delhi, Aurangabad, etc.,
invaded this world, famous temple. The locals, sacrificing their lives, tried
to protect the temple by applying a limestone mixture on the entire temple,
complex, and camouflaging it as a hill rock. Though these layers were peeled off
subsequently, the traces of the same can be seen even today on these walls.
The
Indian postal department issued a stamp featuring the temple on 11 April 2013. Gajapathi
Raju of Vizianagaram is the trustee of the temple, the descendants of the Gajapati Kings, who renovated the temple. The temple is being maintained and
administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of
Andhra Pradesh.
Ref:
1. Display board at the temple and Websites
LEGENDS
Kurma Avatar of Maha Vishnu
has references for Kurma, Vishnu, Agni, Padma, and Brahmanda Puranas. Srikurmam
Temple, as per Puranas, is encircled by Pancha Linga Kshetras (5 Shiva Temples)
and Ashta (8) Tirthas around the temple within a distance of 30 Kilo Metres.
This Triangular area between the Two Rivers Nagavali, Vamsadhara, and the Sea
Bay of Bengal is praised to be the Kali Yuga's Vaikuntham. It is said that Bala
Rama (Elder brother of Sri Krishna), also worshipped during his Southern
Pilgrimage,
As per the legend, during the
process of churning the milk ocean to get the Amrit, Maha Vishnu took the form
of Kurma, over which the Manthara hill was placed. Vasuki the king of snakes as
rope, Devas on one side and Demons on the other side churned.
This is one of the 16 Abhimana
Pradeshas of Sri Ramanuja achariya. This is one of the
Moksha Sthalam similar to Varanasi, Puri, and Gaya, where the last rites are
done to the deceased.
The temple's tank Swetha Pushkarani is also known by the name Sudha Kundam. In the middle of the temple tank, there is a small neerazhi mandapam, called Narasimha Mandapam. The sand below the waters of the temple tank is white in color and is known as Gopi Chandanam.
It
is believed that Great Kings and Saints, including Lava, Kusa, Balarama, Sage
Durvasa, Adi Sankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Narahari Theertha, and Chaitanya
Maha Prabhu worshipped Kurmanatha Swamy of this temple.
Believed a tunnel from this locked room reaches to Kashi.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, Thirumanjanam is performed on a daily basis. 3 gay Dolotsavam
is an important festival celebrated in a grand manner. The festival is conducted
just before the Telugu New Year Ugadi on Dola Pournami.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.00
hrs
CONTACT
DETAILS
Website:
https://www.srikurmam.info/
The
landline number +91 8942 294968 and EO’s mobile number +91 9441180609,
may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
This
temple can be reached from Srikakulam 13 KM, and Viskapattinam City 110 KM.
Nearest
Railway Station is Srikakulam is about 25 KM.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
No comments:
Post a Comment