Kurmanatha Swamy Temple,
Srikurmam – History
The
temple is believed to be built in 2nd century CE. The
temple is initially dedicated to Lord Shiva and referred to as Kurmeswara
temple. Saint Ramanujacharya, the exponent of Sri Vaishnavism, is said to have
transformed the
temple into a Vaishnavite temple in the 11th century CE. His
disciples established Vaishnavism in the
temple with the support of Kalinga king Anantavarman Chodaganga of
Eastern Ganga dynasty. From then on, the
temple has been regarded as a centre of Vaishnavism during the medieval
times alongside Simhachalam.
It is
said that the temple was camouflaged as a hillock by applying lime stone mix on
the
entire temple complex during the Islamic invasion. The limestone layers are
visible even today on the temple walls. Inscriptions dating from 11th
century CE to 19th century CE can be found in the
temple premises. There are about 127 inscriptions in four different
languages in this
temple. The oldest inscription recorded in this
temple is dated to 1073 CE during the reign of Vijayaditya, a descendant
and successor of Rajaraja Narendra of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty.
This
inscription is related to Nannaya, the great Telugu poet and the Asthana Kavi
of Rajaraja Narendra. Srikurmam
was regarded as the Gurupitha (sacred place of the master) of the Ganga
kings of Utkala. Naraharitirtha, the disciple of Madhvacharya, was
instrumental in making Srikurmam, the seat of Vaishnavite religious activities. He
also defended the place from an attack of the Sabaras, a group of savage
inhabitants of the Ganjam forests. Srikurmam
influenced the kings, officials, and Vaishnavite devotees to change their names
in accordance with the religious faith they followed.
Due to
his close association with the eastern Ganga kings, Naraharitirtha created the
office of Bhoga Pariksha (religious head) with the aim of having the successive
Madhwa saints supervise religious matters and pray for the welfare of the royal
family and kingdom. Naraharitirtha later built a temple dedicated
to Yogananda Narasimha in front of Srikurmam. The temple
inscriptions mention Narasimha Dasa Pandita and Purushottama Deva as the Bhoga
Parikshas.
Currently,
Srikurmam is under the trusteeship of the Gajapathi Rajus of Vizianagaram.
The
temple is currently maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and
Endowment Board of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh
State Archaeology Department extended its technical and financial support in
modernizing the
temple and preserving the mural paintings in May 2011. The Indian postal
department issued a stamp featuring the
temple on 11 April 2013, at a price of five rupees.
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