Kurma (Sanskrit: कूर्म; Kurma, ‘Turtle’, ‘Tortoise’), is an Avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu
Originating in Vedic literature such as the YajurVeda as being synonymous with the Saptarishi called Kasyapa, Kurma is most commonly associated in post-Vedic literature such as the Puranas with the legend of the churning of the Ocean of Milk, referred to as the Samudra Manthan
Also synonymous with Akupara, the World-Turtle supporting the Earth, Kurma is listed as the second Dashavatara, which are the ten principal incarnations of Vishnu