Kurma

Kurma is the second avatar of Vishnu — the cosmic tortoise. Vishnu took this form to serve as a pivot during the Samudra Manthan — the cosmic churning of the ocean of milk by the devas and asuras in search of the nectar of immortality (amrit). Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the rope, but the mountain began to sink. Vishnu incarnated as a giant tortoise to support the mountain on his back. The churning produced fourteen precious items including Lakshmi, the Kamadhenu cow, the Parijata tree, the Kaustubha gem, Dhanvantari with the pot of amrit, and the deadly Halahala poison (which Shiva drank). The Kurma avatar represents patience, stability, and the divine support of cosmic processes.

Half-tortoise, half-human form with the upper body of Vishnu holding the four symbols and the lower body of a giant tortoise. Mount Mandara is shown on his back with the serpent Vasuki coiled around it as the gods and demons pull from either side.