Brahmotsavams is the biggest festival of SriKurmam Srikurmanatha Swamy Temple, located in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. The 9-day Brahmotsavams in 2012 will be held from April 28 to May 6, 2012. Vaisakha Pournami in Vaisaka Masam is celebrated as Kurma Jayanti and Sri Kurmanatha Swamy Kalyanotsavam. Sri Kurmanatha Swamy Kalyanam, the celestial wedding of the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is celebrated on May 6, 2012

Srikurmam is one of the ancient and famous temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the village called as Srikurmam. Sri Kurmam is the second form of Lord Vishnu wherein He takes the Avatara (form) of a Tortoise and hence the Lord here is called as "Sri Kurmanatha". This is the only temple in the entire country where Lord Vishnu is seen in "Kurmavatara". Prominent references about this shrine are available in several Puranas like Kurma Purana, Vishnu Purana, Padma Purana and the Brahmanda Purana. Some inscriptions has it that the presiding deity of this temple Lord Shiva and was worshipped by Saivaites (devotees of Lord Siva). It was later change to Vaishnavite by Sri Ramanujacharya - the most important philosopher and saint of Sri Vaishnavam (sect of people who worship Lord Vishnu).

SthalaPuranam :

Naraharitirtha wanted to become a sanyasin and remonstrated with his master that nothing useful was gained by his trying to acquire a kingdom. His master told him to go to the Gajapathi kingdom to acquire the images of Rama and Sita, so that their worship could be restored. Narahari went to Kalinga and was received with great enthusiasm by the people who made him their ruler. He ruled Kalinga for twelve years as a regent for the minor prince. When the prince attained majority Narahari returned the kingdom to him and took the idols of Rama and Sita as Gurudakshina, and gave them to his master. The latter worshipped the images for 80 days and handed them to his disciple Padmanabhatirtha, who in turn worshipped them for six years and gave them back to Naraharitirtha.

Having acquired the images, Naraharitirtha went around preaching. One night he dreamt that an idol of Lord Vishnu was submerged near a tank in the town. He made arrangements to bring it out and establish proper worship. This story is vouched by the inscriptions and epigraphs found at the Srikurmam temple. The presiding deity Lord Vishnu is called Srikurmanatha. There are several sacred shrines within the temple. The Lord first appeared here to bless king Swetamahipathi. His bones were thrown into the Swetapushkarani tank and these got converted into tortoises or kurmas, and hence unclean persons are forbidden to touch the water from the tank.

There is a famous Kshetramahatmyam in this temple told by Rishi Dattira. The Sthalapurana states that the sage heard Lord Hari in his dreams giving details about the greatness of Srikurmam. King Suta ruled Swetachala. The queen was a pious lady and once the king approached her on a Suddha Ekadashi day, which she dedicated to prayer and meditation. The queen prayed that her vrata should not be broken, and Lord Srikurmanatha, ordered Ganga to flow between the king and the queen. The king was thus separated from the queen, and he continued living on the banks of the Vamsadhara River. One day Narada met him and told him he could bring blessings upon himself by doing penance. The king went where Vamsadhara River joined the sea, and prayed to the Lord for darshan. On the way he saw a sacred spot and created a tank known as the Ksheera Samudram. Mahalakshmi came and resided here. The spot is called Srikurmam or Kurmagundam.

The temple premises has around 200 pillars and many inscriptions in Devenagri script dating from the 11th to the 19th century A.D can be found inscripted on them. The temple has a huge five storied gopuram built in typical South Indian style architecture. The murals resemble their similarity to the one found at Ajantha Caves in Mahrashtra.

Specials :

One unique feature of this temple is that it has Dhwajastambams (flag masts) in the front and back of the temple, the reason behind is because the deity faces to the back of the temple on the west side and hence the reason for another Dhwajastambam. For this reason piligrims can directly enter into the 'garbha gudi' the inner sanctum sanctorium, which may not be a possibility in any other temple.

In this place you can watch different types of live tortoises in a near by place adjacent to the temple grounds.

How to Reach This Place

• Road: Srikakulam is located 104 kms from Visakhapatnam. It is well connected by Road.
• Rail: 104 kms from Visakhapatnam Railway station.
• Air: Visakhapatnam Airport.