A link to posts on Kurma Puranam and Kurma Avataram on this site : Kurma Puranam.
A BEAUTIFUL STONE CARVING ON THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE - GAJA LAKSHMI : http://srikurmamtemple.blogspot.com/
The munis, having heard from Vishnu that it is impossible for embodied souls to cross Mahamaya said, “Lotus-Eyed one, is there anyone in the the three times (past, present and future), who has crossed mAyA, who is difficult to win over and who has been formed by/of divinity. (dEva nirmitA).
Sri Maha Vishnu, the one whose senses were controlled, who was worshipped by the munis, said to the munis :
“There is a distinguished twice-born one by name indradyumna.
In his previous birth he was a king, undefeated even by s’ankara and others. Having seen me established in the kurma, and having heard the divine pouranika himself from my my own mouth, having honoured the best among the munIs, having understood that Brahma, Maheswara, and all the Devas with their s’aktis, as established in my s’akti, he took refuge in me.
Then I told him that he would take birth in the womb of a wise person (brahmin, vipra), and that he would remember his previous birth.
I told Indradyumna “O sinless one, I shall give you that most secret knowledge (gnyAna), which is said to be unfathomable by all beings and the luminaries (devas) themselves. Having got that knowledge you shall enter Me at the end.
By another ams’a (fraction), you will return to the earth and stay there. At the end of vaivaswata antara (the vaivaswata manvantara), you will enter into me.
(There are 14 Manvantaras in a Kalpa. A manu or an Indra (Hero, God, Astronomical Point, War Strategist) lives for 1 manvantara. 1 manvanatara is a 100 years of Indra. 1 Indra day is about 1 human month. His fortnight is about a year for us!)
Having bowed to me, go back to your city and look after (care for/rule, pAlayAmAsa) the earth.”
O best among munIs! After he passed away, by the virtue of time (kAladharma), for a while he was with me in the s’vEtadvIpa (white island). Having enjoyed those vaiSNava pleasures which even yOgIs find hard to attain, by my command (aagnyaa) he was born (jagnye) again in the family of Brahmins.
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