Kurma Avataara

Pasu to Pasupati

There are several questions, which lead to certain notions and they define code of ethics. In the absence of any social system, a man is subject to the laws of the jungle, he is a Pasu. However, he learnt to question it and hence a civilization arose. A man can choose empathy or he can choose the opposite. These lead to the margas of Devas and Asuras. The one who gives it all to the society and the one who isn't conscious of his personal gains is the Pasupati. 

Origin of Civilisation

Matsya avataara is basically the origin of civilisation, when man challenged the rules of the jungle. Nature dictates certain constraints. However, we challenge that and we evolve technology to grow the space we can live in. This is illustrated by the story of the fish which grows and asks for a bigger pool to live in. Even Abrahamic religions have this story expressed in a different form.

Avataar

An avataar is basically the abstract god expressed in a certain context. The journey of human beings is written in the form of the Dasavatara Roopakam, which is essentially a journey from Pasu to Pasupati. 

Manthan

The Ksheera Sagara Madhana Marmam is described briefly, metaphorically, in the previous post. The churning of the milky way is a metaphor to describe brainstorming and the process of churning knowledge. While a side presents its argument, the other side applies anti-force, thinks about it and vice-versa. When, even one of the sides doesn't play constructively, the discussions turns into an arguments and perhaps that's not desirable.

Kurma Avataara

Kurma Avataara illustrates perseverance. When you are staring at a seemingly difficult task and when you don't the get the outcome which you deserve, negative feelings seep through. You need to realize that the only feeling which can defeat defeat is Perseverance.

Evolution selected pessimistic narrow minded short term thinking, as our survival was essential. However, since the advent of civilization, we started dictating nature, to a fairly good extent. All those marvels, were possible only through perseverance.If inception of civilization was the first achievement, which was told with the help of Matsya avataara, Kurma avataara talks about perseverance, which can take civilization to the next level.

Why tortoise?

Indian stories are essentially some incidents (usually true) embedded with philosophical layers. Some rishis would go through these and come up with arguments which summarize it, philosophically. The poets like Vyasa, do the retelling along with the philosophy imbibed in it. Perhaps an incident where the presence of a tortoise reinforced the importance of perseverance led the philosopher into coming up with this story. 

Link between Manthanam(or Madhanam) and Kurma

This is the reason why this article is being written. The Kurma basically facilitates manthan. When you are thinking through a process, churning of ideas takes place. However, you need them to be anchored and you need to be persevere. 

This metaphor is clear, when you see it with the help of an analogy. How do you grow physically stronger? You need to workout in a gym, maybe! Say, you can do twenty push-ups at a time. You need to push yourself, for a few more. Remembering your goal/destination will push you a few steps further. We have been so used to this story that we take perseverance for granted and we lose patience.

So, when we are trying to understand something, manthanam leads to ideas for and against, the force and the anti-force churn(manthan) it out. All the beautiful things will come out of the universe as a result of this process. Although you tried to get 'amrit' out of it, you get so many awesome things. When people try to solve some problems, they get solutions of more fascinating problems. That's the best of manthan, you get things other the 'amrit', you were craving for.

However, whenever, you don't get these results and negative energy seeps through, when waves of impatience start rising, you need to listen to the kurma, that only perseverance can defeat the defeat.