Kurmanatha Swamy Temple, Srikurmam – History

Kurmanatha Swamy Temple, Srikurmam – History

The temple is believed to be built in 2^nd 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 11^th 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 11^th century CE to 19^th 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.