Kurma

This article is about the Hindu deity. For the cause-and-effect concept, see Karma. For the South Asian food, see Korma.

Kurma
Member of Dashavatara
Kurma avatar by Raja Ravi Varma
Devanagariकूर्म
AffiliationVaishnavism
AbodeBharata Khanda, Vaikuntha
MantraOm Kurmaya Namah
WeaponNone
FestivalsKurma Jayanti
ConsortLakshmi
Dashavatara Sequence
PredecessorMatsya
SuccessorVaraha
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Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Kurma (Sanskrit: कूर्म, lit. 'Turtle' or 'Tortoise'), is the second avatar of the Hindu preserver deity, Vishnu. Originating in Vedic literature such as the Yajurveda as being synonymous with the Saptarishi called Kashyapa, Kurma is most commonly associated in post-Vedic literature such as the Puranas. He prominently appears in the legend of the churning of the Ocean of Milk, referred to as the Samudra Manthana. Along with being synonymous with Akupara, the World-Turtle supporting the Earth, Kurma is listed as the second of the Dashavatara, which are the ten principal incarnations of Vishnu.