Kurma

   In Vedic myth the second, or tortoise, avatar of Vishnu or Brahma. This constitutes the second episode of the Deluge story which began in Matsya. Here the god descended to the bottom of the ocean to recover the treasures of the Vedic tribes which had been lost during the Deluge. As a tortoise he stationed himself at the bottom of the sea and on his back was placed a mountain, around which was coiled Vasuki. With the gods at one end and the Asuras at the other they churned up the following precious objects: Airavata, the elephant of Indra; Amrita, the ambrosia of the gods; Chandra, the moon; Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods; Dhanus, the bow of victory; Kaustubha, the jewel of Vishnu; Lakshmi (or Sri), the goddess; Parijata, the Tree of Knowledge; Rambha, the first of the Apsarases; Sankha, the horn of victory; Sura, the goddess of wine; Surabhi, the cow of plenty; Uccaihsravas, the first horse; Visha, a poison.