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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

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59. Koorma moorthaye SrI VenkatEsaaya nama:

Among the ten popular avataraas that the Lord took is the Koorma avataara, where the Lord assumed the form of a giant turtle, enabling the Devas and asuraas to stabilise the colossal Mantara mountain on His back, preventing it from slipping off into the waters. Using the upright mountain as the churning rod and the snake Vasuki as the rope to turn it back and forth, the Devas and Asuraas churned up the Milky Ocean (Tiruppaarkadal), from which emerged a host of treasures like the Kaamadhenu (the Divine Cow capable of granting all wishes), the Iraavatam (magnificent elephant which became Indra's carrier), the Moon and Sri Mahalakshmi Herself. And finally emerged Nectar, for which the entire exercise was undertaken, capable of conferring immortality.

The Bhagavata Puraana tells us that the Lord's form was wonderful, unprecedented and beyond imagination, that of a giant Turtle strong enough to support a mammoth mountain--

"Kritvaa vapu: kacchapam adbhutam mahat pravisya toyam girim ujjahaara"

The mountain was borne on this magnificent turtle's back so effortlessly that the constant movement of the mountain produced nothing more than a mild scratching sensation on its back--

"bibhrat tat aavartanam Aadi kacchapO mene anga kandooyanam aprameya:".

we are told that the Koorma roopam was so huge that it looked as if the Mantara parvatam was placed atop another colossal mountain. And the rhythmic movements of the mountain on His back, of the mild buffeting of waves back and forth etc., made the Lord feel as of He was in a cradle, indulging in some sport with His beloved Consort. The beautiful scene described above is summarised by Swami Desikan in his Dasavatara Stotram thus.

.Avyaasu: bhuvana trayeem anibritam kandooyanai: adrinaa

 nidraanasya parasya Koorma vapusho nishvaasa vaatormaya:

 yat vikshepana samsrita udadhi paya: prenchola paryankika

 nityaarohana nirvrito viharate Deva: sahaiva Shriyaa.

The Lord in this avataram was black as a rain-cloud, adorned with gold-coloured apparel, lightning-like ear-rings, beautiful hair moving from side to side with every movement of His head and red-lined eyes.

This avatara demonstrates that the Lord considers no role too mean to assume, if only it satisfies His devotees.




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