Kurmagram, a ‘Vedic village’ in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, is a
window into the way our ancestors lived centuries ago. Its houses are mud huts roofed with thatch or tiles. The residents of the 60-acre village built the houses themselves without using steel and cement. They have no electricity, internet, television or cooking gas, nor other modern amenities and gadgets, including mobile phones. There’s just one landline phone for community outreach. Is it poverty? No, the residents have ditched the trappings of modern life to follow the basic principle of Consciousness: simple living and high thinking. The 14 families and a few celibate Krishna devotees who live in Kurmagram say this minimalist, self-reliant existence gives their lives more meaning and purpose than affluence. Radha Krishna Charan Das, who left his IT job for Krishna Consciousness and became a teacher at the village gurukul, said: “Earlier, people were happy with fewer things. The craving for material wealth has unfortunately increased in recent times, which pains me a lot.” Kurmagram lies 6km from Srimukhalingam village that houses the famous 9thcentury Lord Sri Mukha Lingesvara temple. A typical day here begins about. 3am and ends at 7. 30pm. The self-reliant lifestyle demands the residents weave their own cloth and grow their own vegetables and grains, including for the prasadam (meals) served to visitors. “Human deeds should only extend to the highest self-realization, rather than the accumulation of material wealth. For this, we live the way our ancestors lived 300 years ago,” Nateswara Narottam Das, who heads the village gurukul, told TOI. “It may take some more time to achieve full self-sufficiency, but our purpose is clear: simple living with high thinking, as taught by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.” He said the village’s economy is based on land and cows. They grow cereals, pulses, vegetables and some fruits, and barter these with farmers in nearby villages for other cooking essentials. Taught like The Pandavas At the village Gurukul, children are taught in the Vedic style, with the emphasis on morals, ethical training, and high thinking. “Our day starts with waking up at. 3 0 am, followed by Mangala Harathi (aarti) at 4. 30am, japam (meditative repetition of a mantra) for one hour, guru puja, and book reading. The classes start at 9am. We are taught math, science, Sanskrit, Telugu, Hindi, English, the shastras, arts, and the Mahabharata,” said Siddu Srikant, a shishya at the gurukul. The children sometimes perform plays based on the Mahabharata and history, which serve as entertainment for the elders. There’s also the daily Harikatha recital (a religious art form consisting of storytelling, poetry, music, and narration). At the gurukul, they don’t see learning as the accumulation of theoretical knowledge but a means to self-realisation. So, there’s plenty of physical activity too, ranging from swimming and playing in the fields to kabaddi and ‘seven stones’. The children have a choice of three courses – Bhakti Vriksha, Bhakti Shastri, and Bhakti Vaibhav, said Charan Das. “These three courses take about 10 years each. Growing interest The residents of Kurmagram are not concerned about what happens outside their ashram, but they get a steady stream of news from visitors, whose numbers have been rising as the village’s fame has spread. Hundreds come on weekdays, and thousands on Sundays. TOI found visitors from Telangana and other coastal Andhra districts at the ashram. Narottam Das said they have been preaching spirituality and spreading Vedic knowledge in the villages surrounding their ashram. “Thousands of people visiting the ashram and gurukul are taught spiritual knowledge and Krishna Consciousness. ” The outsiders are allowed to stay at the ashram if they abide by its principles. Visiting families and the celibate devotees are housed separately. Some foreign devotees have also made Kurmagram their home. Born in Argentina and an Italian citizen now, Rupa Ragunath Swami Maharaj started visiting India more than 40 years ago in 1978. He was in Kurmagram to deliver a religious discourse when TOI visited. A Russian national, who has taken the name Nruhari Das, has become a permanent resident of the village. “The ancient Vedic knowledge has brought me to this land. People following the spiritual path do not need to worry about anything as the necessities arising from their austere lifestyle are fulfilled by nature itself,” he said KR IRS 9925 On Tue, 9 Sept 2025 at 12:20, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *THE KURMANATHASWAMY TEMPLE, SRIKURMAM VILLAGE, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT ANDHRA > PRADESH-COMPILED* > > Dear friends, > > The Kurmanathaswamy temple, also known as the Kurmanatha temple, is > dedicated to Kurma – the second avatar of Vishnu. It is located in > Srikurmam village, Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. > > Srikurmam temple is known for its distinctive architectural style. The > design of the gopuram is different from the regular style seen at other > Vaishnavite temples. It also has two flag masts , one on the west and the > other on the east, which is another rare element in a Vaishnavite temple. > The upper part of the sanctum sanctorum is built in the form of an > ashtadala padmam (eight-petaled lotus). The devotees can directly enter the > sanctum sanctorum to offer prayers, unlike the method specified by the > traditional rules of Vaishnavism. > > Today my posting is about this temple. Hope a divine reading. > > Gopalakrishnan 09-09-2025. > > Introduction > > The Srikurmanatha Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh is the *most > famous Kurma Avatara temple* in India, as it is the only temple in the > world where Lord Vishnu is exclusively worshipped as the Kurma (tortoise) > avatar. It is located in Srikurmam village of Srikakulam district in > Andhra Pradesh. > > Legends > > During the reign of king Swetha Chakravarthi, this area was referred to as > Swetha Giri. Swetha Chakravarthi's wife Vishnu Priya was a devotee of > Vishnu.[13] When she was observing a fast on an Ekadasi day, Swetha > Chakravarthi approached her with the intention of making love. When she > refused, saying the time was not ideal, the king became adamant. She prayed > to Vishnu, who created a stream of water, separating the couple. Swetha > Chakravarthi was carried away in the ensuing flood and Vishnu Priya > followed him to the hilly terrains of Swetha Giri. > > The sage Narada initiated an upadesam of the Kurma Narayana mantra and > asked the king to pray to Vishnu using it. By the time Vishnu appeared in > the form of the Kurma (tortoise) avatar, the king's health had > deteriorated. Vishnu then made his Sudarshana Chakra make an impression in > the nearby land, forming a lake. *Swetha Chakravarthi bathed in the lake > and regained his health, after which it was referred to as Swetha > Pushkarani*. Upon the king's request, Vishnu manifested as the deity of > Kurmanatha. According to the Padma Purana, Brahma officiated the celestial > rituals and consecrated the deity with Gopala Yantra.[14] Vishnu is > worshipped as Kurmanatha Swamy or Kurma Narayana, along with his consort > Lakshmi, who is referred to as Kurmanayaki. > > Later, a tribal king visited the Swetha Pushkarani and was impressed with > it. After learning about the story of its origin from Swetha Chakravarthi, > the tribal king constructed a tank around the lake and began worshipping > the deity regularly. The tribal king used to stay in Sage Sampangi's > monastery, which was situated in the Western side of the temple. Upon the > king's request, the deity started facing west. > > The sage Durvasa visited the temple later with his disciples; the event > of his arrival was considered significant. > > Rama's sons Lava and Kusha were said to have worshipped Vishnu as > Kurmanatha in Srikurmam. > > In Dvapara Yuga, Balarama visited the temple and was denied entry by > Bhairava, who was serving as the temple's Kshetrapala (guardian deity). > Infuriated, Balarama threw Bhairava away from the temple premises. > > Kurmanatha learned of this and gave Balarama permission to enter the > temple. Balarama, in resentment, cursed that Srikurmam would be the only > temple where Vishnu would be worshipped in the form of Kurma Narayana. > > Legends also say that upon Vishnu's request, Anjaneya agreed to guard > the temple. > > History > > According to Prapannamrutam and earliest inscription of the temple, In > saka 1035 CE Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva of Eastern Ganga Dynasty of > Odisha *converted this temple to a Vaishnava khetra from a Siva temple. *The > temple's perambulatory were constructed by Eastern Ganga Dynasty king > Anangabhima Deva III, and it is dedicated to Vishnu as Kurmanathaswamy and > his consort Lakshmi as Kurmanayaki. Ramanuja's disciples established > Vaishnavism in the temple with the support of Kalinga king Anantavarman > Chodaganga, the eastern Ganga king. After this incident, a group of > devadasis were employed to sing and dance daily before the deity in the > morning and evening. > > Architecture > > The temple was Built before 11th-century CE in a fusion architecture of > kalinga Architecture and Dravidian Architecture. The temple has century old > Orissan Pattachitra style mural paintings in side wall of pradakshina > mandapa. The temple was an important centre of Vaishnavism in the medieval > period along with Simhachalam. > > Srikurmam temple is known for its distinctive architectural style. The > design of the gopuram is different from the regular style seen at other > Vaishnavite temples. It also has two dhvajasthambas, one on the west and > the other on the east, which is another rare element in a Vaishnavite > temple. The upper part of the sanctum sanctorum is built in the form of an > ashtadala padmam (eight-petaled lotus). > > Sanctum > > Srikurmam is the only known pre-14th-century Indian temple that is > dedicated to the Kurma avatar. The sanctum of Kurmanatha temple has both > a tortoise image and the anthropomorphic Vishnu with Lakshmi. > > Chief deity > > The deity of Kurmanathaswamy is made of black stone, but due to regular > applications of sandalwood paste, it appears yellow. It sits on a platform > made of stone with a length of 5 feet, a height of 1 foot, and a width of 4 > feet. *The deity is 2.5 feet (0.76 m) long and consists of three stone > structures*. The stone representing the head faces the west; the middle > stone represents the body of the tortoise; the small stone at the rear end, > covered with swirling circles, represents either the tail of the tortoise > or the Sudarshana Chakra. > > Beside the sanctum sanctorum of Kurmanatha, there is a temple dedicated to > Kurmanayaki in which a deity of Andal is found. > > Utsava deities, sub deities and Dwarapalaks > > The utsava deities of Govindaraja Swamy and his consorts Sridevi and > Bhudevi were found in the Swetha Pushkarani in the 12th century AD. The > utsava deities of Rama, Sita, and Laksmana were presented by > Naraharitirtha. All these deities are located in a small room near the > sanctum sanctorum and are worshipped daily. > > The temple has primarily Vaishnava iconography and murals, but also > reverentially includes Shaiva (Ganesha, Shiva) and Shakti (Lakshmi, > Durga) icons. > > Hatakeswara, Karpureswara, Koteswara, Sundareswara, and Pathalasiddheswara > are among the temple's guardian deities. > > Temple Sewas: > > Abhishekam is carried out every day from 4.30 to 6 AM. > > Suprabhata Seva, Nityabhishekam, Prabhodika, Mangala Snanam, > Thiruvaradana, Sarva darshan, > > Balabhogam: 06:00 AM to 12:00 PM. > > Rajabogam: 12 PM. > > Nitya Thiruvaradana, Amngalasnanam: 7 PM. > > Pavalimpu Seva: 8 PM. > > Srikurmam is one of the rare Indian temples that follow both Shaivite and > Vaishnavite traditions. Abhisheka is performed daily to the deity, and > devotees are allowed to participate in person; this is a feature seen > more often in Shaivite temples than in Vaishnavite temples. > > Unlike Many Maha Vishnu Temples, Abhishekam (Similar to ThiruManjanam) is > performed to the deity on daily basis (Like in Siva Temples) and *devotees > can opt for participation with a nominal ticket of rupees Hundred*. It is > performed in the early hours of the day (4:30 am - 6:00 am) and devotees > can participate in person. Devotees can bring the materials on their own or > request Temple Administration for the same at nominal Prices (Milk, Ghee, > Curds, Honey, Sugar, Coconuts, Fruit Juices etc). > > For those not able to be present, the Temple administration can arrange to > perform the Abhishekham in their Name/Gotra Namam on any day of their > choice at a nominal amount of Rs Hundred. There is a facility even for > Saswata Abhishekam - i.e. performing Abhishekam in the name/Gotra Namam of > the Devotee on any day of his/her choice every year permanently., with > onetime payment of Rs. 2000. > > Lord's Kalyanam is also performed on regular basis. The ticket amount is > rupees Five Hundred and Sixteen per couple. Generally, at least a day's > prior notice is necessary for organising/rescheduling the Poojas. Those > wanting to participate can write/ approach the Temple Administration. > > Darshan, Sewas and Festivals > > Being a world-renowned temple , Darshan is allowed from 6:00 am to 7:45 pm > on all days, with very short intermittent closures for Poojas of the > Deity. There is a facility for faster/special darshan, for those in a > hurry, with special tickets at a nominal amount of rupees ten. Generally it > takes less than 30 minutes for Darshan with all devotees being Allowed into > the Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbha Gruha). > > Some of the main Festivals being celebrated in the Temple are the 3-day > Dolotsavam (Falguna Paurnami - popularly known as Holi), One day Annual > Kalyanotsavam (Vaisakha Shudha Ekadasi), One day Annual Janma Dinam > (Kurma Jayanthi) Festival of Deity on Jyeshta Bahula Dwadasi, One day > Festival on Mukkoti Ekadasi etc > > Temple tank with Narasimha mandapam > > 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 construction > named Narasimha mandapam. *The sand below the waters of the temple tank > is white in colour, and is known as Gopi Chandanam. Legends say that > Krishna played with gopikas in these waters, after which the sand turned > white when a sage saw them*. > > Pillars > > The temple contains 108 ekasila (single-stone) pillars, with none > resembling each other. They bear few inscriptions related to the royal > lineages that existed in this area in the past. > > Tortoise Park > > In the temple's premises, a tortoise park has been built to conserve the > adult and young star tortoises, which are found in the foothills and fields > of Srikakulam. *Srikurmam is the only conservation centre for this > species*. Devotees offer these tortoises from the nearby fields. They > also feed gongura leaves to these tortoises as a token of respect for the > deity. The Endowment Board of the Government of Andhra Pradesh and NGO > Green Mercy took on the responsibility for the conservation of these star > tortoises. As of September 2015, the temple hosted a total of 255 tortoises. > > Mural paintings > > The temple also contains 42 mural paintings of Krishna on its walls. > > Special Attractions: > > Swetha pushkarini which was created by lord Vishnu's Sudharshana Chakra. > It is believed that goddess Laxmi emerged out of this holy tank in Garuda > vahana and self-manifested as Kurma Nayaki > > Sri Kurmam temple has Tortoise centre where one can see number of tortoise > together there > > Dashavatara statues at back side of the temple > > Two Dwaja stamba's one at East and one at West > > Temple Timings: > > Darshan is from 06:00 am to 07:45 pm > > Abhishekam is from 04:30 am to 06:00 am > > Discipline > > Devotees are advised to keep sufficient extra time so that they can have a > glimpse of the rare and ancient heritage in the Temple. Though there is no > Dress code, being an ancient temple, devotees are advised to prefer > traditional attire. *Photography is allowed except in Sanctum Sanctorum*. > > How to reach the temple > > Air: Visakhapatnam International Airport is located 125 KM from > Srikurmam. > > Rail: Srikurmam is located at 22.3KM to the *Srikakulam Road station*. > Many trains to the north (Palasa, Howrah, and Bhubaneswar) and south > (Vijayawada, Secundearabad, and Chennai) leave from here. > > It's a bit outside town, but many taxis and autorickshaws are available > from Srikakulam to reach the railway station. RTC and private busses are > also available for every 5 minutes from Srikakulam Road railway station to > Srikakulam RTC Complex and old bus stand, from where Srikurmam can be > reached easily > > Road: There are regular bus services from the bus stand to the temple. > Alternatively, you can hire an auto rickshaw and it generally costs Rs 150. > > Way of worship > > Devotees visit the Pathalasiddheswara temple before entering the sanctum > sanctorum of Kurmanathaswamy. > > Ancestor Worship > > Ancestor worship is famous in Srikurmam, because of which it is known as > pitrukshetra. People believe that their ancestors' souls shall gain > salvation if offered prayers here. Because of this, hundreds of devotees > perform ancestor worship. Devotees use the Gopi Chandanam while applying > thirunamam on their forehead. > > Accommodation Facilities > > At Srikurmam Temple: General individual room type Accommodation in TTD > Guest House (7 Rooms - Rs 50 per room per day), Dormitory type > accommodation in Tourism Guest House or 2 VIP rooms in Tourism Guest House > are available at nominal rates. Please contact the Temple office for > Reservations. > > Address > > Srikurmam Rd, Srikurmam, Andhra Pradesh 532404 > > Phone: 083415 15917 > > Administration > > The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and > Endowment Board of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The Indian postal > department issued a stamp featuring the temple on 11 April 2013. > > Modernising the temple > > In May 2011, the Andhra Pradesh State Archaeology Department extended its > technical and financial support in modernising the temple and preserving > the mural paintings. The Indian postal department issued a stamp featuring > the temple on 11 April 2013, at a price of five rupees. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/117833029.671980.1757400624387%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/117833029.671980.1757400624387%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZor_auSFLOJ7C4wWcuQCdWN6_UVfabASfC-P3qpmyOYV%2BA%40mail.gmail.com.
