Legend
Kurma Avatăr was taken when the Gods helped by the Demons set out to obtain ambrosia (amrita) – a nectar of immortality to strenghtn them, by churning the ocean of milk. All the Gods, when defeated by the demons, approached Vishnu for the invigoration of their power and vlour. He advised them to invite the Dănavăs to churn the ocean and obtain amrita. They did this by using Mount Mandăra (Meru) as a churning rod which they rotated by winding the serpent Ananta (Văsuki) round it and pulling first one way and then the other. When their attempts failed, Vishnu encouaged them to continue and turned himself into a Tortise to act as a pivot for the rod-mountain and they were successful.