Srila Prabhupada’s auspicious arrival for the at Sri Kurmakshetra:-

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati

Goswami Prabhupada, the fulfiller of Lord Chaitanya’s desires installed the footprint of Lord Chaitanya at Jajpur Varaha Deva temple on Tuesday, December 25th, 1930 AD. Then at 11 o’clock he again started towards Jajpur station. From there he caught the Madras mail at 11 pm. The next day, on December 26, Wednesday, at 10 o’clock, he got down at Chikakol Road Station and rested for some time in a guest house. At about 12 o’clock in the afternoon he left that place and in a motor bus he reached Kurma-kshetra at 2pm.

Geographical location of Kurma-kshetra:

Sri Kurma-kshetra is located at 14.5 km south-east of Srikakulam city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India i.e. in the Gara mandal of Srikakulam district. This place is also known as Kurmma-grama (the village of Lord Kurma) because of the presence of Shri Kurma Deva. The temple can also be reached by bus from Srikakulam Road Railway Station. This place is a pilgrimage for Vaishnavas. Because Lord Vishnu is worshipped at this place in the form of Kurma (turtle). The Gaudiya Vaishnavas also hold this place in special reverence as the site was visited by Sri Gaura and Nityananda. The temple is managed under the supervision of Madhva Matha. Earlier this place was ruled by the king of Vijayanagar. There is a stone plaque in the temple. A verse is curved on that. The meaning is as following: 

“This temple is built in front of Kamata Deva and gladly dedicated to Yogananda Nrisimhadeva, the bestower of unlimited mercy. (By Kilhorne Saheb, 1281 AD 29 March Saturday)

(excerpt from anubhashya Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, madhya, chapter 7, verse 113)

History of Lord Kurma Deva at Kurmachala:

Lord Jagannatha appeared to Acharya Ramanuja:

In the eleventh century, the great Vaishnava scholar and the preceptor of Sri Vaishnavism, Sri Ramanuja came to visit Sri Jagannath at Sridham Puri. At that time King Chora-Ganga-deva was ruling Orissa. Sri Ramanuja had considerable influence over the king. He convinced the king that the method in which the daily worship of Lord Jagannatha was being conducted in the temple was not correct. Because the Lord was being worshipped in a mixed method of Vedic and non-Vedic rites. People from lower castes such as the Daitapatis were participating in the puja. Ramanuja argued that the Lord should be worshipped only according to the Vedic system. Therefore he wanted to change the way of worship in the Jagannath temple. He proposed various changes to the king and was finally able to convince the king to accept these proposals. Jagannath’s servants objected to this new system, but the king did not heed their request.

Arrangement for introducing new rules suggested by Sri Ramanuja:-

Finally an auspicious day was fixed, on which Ramanuja would introduce the new method of worship. The king and all the Brahmins arrived at the temple early in the morning. They announced that from that day onwards the new prototype of puja-method given by Sri Ramanuja would be introduced in the temple. Everyone, including the king, anxiously awaited for the arrival of Sri Ramanuja, but did not get a glimpse of him. After waiting for a long time, the king ordered the priest to start the puja as per the earlier procedure. Then the king ordered the ministers to search for Ramanuja.

Lord Jagannatha’s reprimanded Sri Ramanuja and threw him to Sri Kurma Kshetra:-

Then after much investigation it was learned that on the previous night, when Ramanuja was asleep, Sri Jagannatha appeared in his dream. Shri Jagannatha scolded him and said, “Who are you to change my worship method? Let my devotees do the same as they have been worshipping me from the beginning. They are my special devotees. I have a special relationship with them. You don’t understand it. Don’t embarrass them. Get out of here.” The next day Sri Ramanujacharya awoke and found himself at Kurma-kshetra. He realised that he had been thrown by Sri Jagannathdeva from Puri to here. 

Sri Ramanuja identified the deity of Lord Sri Kurma-deva and started daily worship:

The place i.e. Kurma-kshetra where Sri Ramanuja was thrown away by Lord Jagannatha, the deity of Lord Sri Kurma-deva was being worshipped as Shiva linga. Sri Ramanuja expressed doubts about this. To reveal the truth he fasted for a day and prayed to the Lord. Lord Sri Kurma-deva was very pleased with him and said to Sri Ramanuja in a sweet tone, “O Yatindra (the best of the ascetics)! The local people, being blinded by illusion, falsely worship me as ‘Shiva-linga’. But here I am present in My own form which is the holder of conch, disc and mace. O Lakshmana, the noble man, “have My darshan soon and worship Me here and stay here for some time.” At this incident Yatiraja (best among the ascetics) Sri Ramanuja woke up. He was very surprised and happy. He worshipped Lord Kurma-deva properly in the manner described in the dream. After that he lived happily for a few days there. Since that time this place became known as Sri Kurma-kshetra, the land of Vishnu. Thereafter Lord Kurma-deva was being worshipped According to the rules as introduced by Sri Ramanujacharya.”

(Excerpt from Sri Prapannamrita, chapter 36 by Sri Ramanuja)

Srila Prabhupada’s visit to newly constructed  footprint temple along with his associates:-

Śrīla Prabhupāda was the first to enter within the grand precincts of Śrī Kūrma-deva’s temple. His associates followed him and entered the temple precincts chanting the victory-sound in the name of Sri Guru & Gauranga. The lion-entrace of the temple is high and very beautiful. When Srila Prabhupada prostrated there, everyone bowed down following him. A large lake called Pushkara Tirtha is situated within the temple premises. The temple of Sri Kurma-deva is situated at the centre of this lake. Outside the main temple but within the temple precincts on the western side of the south bank, the footprint temple is newly under the direction of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada was the first to visit the temple. After visiting the footprint temple, Srila Prabhupada visited Pushkara tirtha. After taking water on his head, he entered the temple of Sri Kurma-deva.

Srila Prabhupada at Kūrma-deva’s temple:-

Srila Prabhupada along with associates entered the temple of Sri Kurma-Deva and had the darshan of the deity. The deity of Sri Kurma-deva is present inside the temple in the form of a turtle. Two big oil lamps are lit in front of Him. Sri Kurma-deva is facing west. Srila Prabhupada first and then all the associates bowed down to Lord Kurma-deva. The priest offered fruit etc to the Lord. Then he  performed aarti and showed the deity to everyone. On a lower altar on the south side Lord Sri Kurma-deva was present encircling his divine limbs.There is a garland made with small salagrama rocks around Sri Kūrma-deva’s neck. To the south of the upper altar the stone deities of Sri Rama & Sita are enthroned facing east; On the north side, the Vijaya Vigraha (functional deity) i.e. the deities of Sri Govinda-Rama along with His consorts Sri and Bhu. Following Srila Prabhupada, all the Vaishnavas again bowed down and received the nirmalya (offered flowers) and went out through the south-door. Later they had the darshan of Lakshmi Devi.

Establishment of Lord Chaitanya’s footprint by Srila Prabhupada:-

On 26th December 1930, devotees started Sankirtan accompanied by Mridanga and cymbals. When Srila Prabhupada installed the footprint of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu with his own hands, the devotees from all four directions raised their voices to chant the victory sound in the name of Guru & Gauranga. Srila Prabhupada himself started the installation ceremony. At first he washed the stone-engraved footprint in Ganga water. Everybody did sankirtan while Srila Prabhupada offered tulasi leaves with sandalwood paste and garlands brought by the devotees. Then all other sannyasis performed the arcana followed by the rest of the devotees by offering tulasi and sandalwood paste. When the arcana was done, bhoga was offered and aratrika and kirtana were performed. 

Srila Prabhupada’s order for daily worship at the footprint:-

Srila Prabhupada instructed a local devotee named Kurmacharlun (a Ramanujite Vaishnava and resident of Kurma-kshetra) to apply urdhva puñdra tilaka on forehead and put on tulasi neck beads and everyday perform a sattvika (simple) arcana of the footprint by offering it water, Tulasi leaves, flowers with sandalwood pulp sanctified with Gaura-mantra. 

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes at Kurma-kshetra:-

During His tour of South India, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to the temple of Kurma-deva in Kurma-kshetra. While performing the Sankirtan, he had the darshan of Lord Kurma-deva and danced in ecstasy. This pastime is described in Chaitanya Charitamrita, madhya, 7.113 para: 

ei-mata yāite yāite gelā kūrma-sthāne

kūrma dekhi’ kaila tāṅre stavana-praṇāme

Translation: When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to the holy place known as Kūrma-kṣetra, He saw the Deity and offered prayers and obeisances.

Meeting with a Brahmin named Kurma:-

There lived a Vedic Brahmin named Kurma. He was attracted to Mahaprabhu. He invited Him to his residence and washed the Lord’s feet. Then he took the water on his head, drank it and made everyone in the house drink it. Then he surrendered Mahaprabhu’s lotus feet. Mahaprabhu was pleased with him and bestowed upon him abundant grace and love.

This is described in Chaitanya Charitamrita, madhya, 7.121-125

kūrma’-nāme sei grāme vaidika brāhmaṇa

bahu śraddhā-bhaktye kaila prabhura nimantraṇa

Translation: In one village there was a Vedic brāhmaṇa named Kūrma. He invited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home with great respect and devotion.

ghare āni’ prabhura kaila pāda prakṣālana

sei jala vaṁśa-sahita karila bhakṣaṇa

Translation: This brāhmaṇa brought Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home, washed His lotus feet and, with his family members, drank that water.

aneka-prakāra snehe bhikṣā karāila

gosāñira śeṣānna sa-vaṁśe khāila

Translation: With great affection and respect, that Kūrma brāhmaṇa made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu eat all kinds of food. After that, the remnants were shared by all the members of the family.

yei pāda-padma tomāra brahmā dhyāna kare

sei pāda-padma sākṣāt āila mora ghare

Translation: The brāhmaṇa then began to pray, “O my Lord, Your lotus feet are meditated upon by Lord Brahmā, and these very lotus feet have come into my home.

Meeting with Vasudeva, a Brahmin suffering from leprosy:-

That Brahmin, Kurma had a Brahmin friend named Vasudeva, who had been afflicted with leprosy since childhood. But he had no lack of devotion. He always chanted Lord Krishna’s names. When Vasudeva heard that a great saint had come to Brahmin Kurma’s house and was graciously delivering love to everyone in the name of Lord Krishna, he came running to see the Lord’s lotus feet. Just at that time Mahaprabhu left that house and started walking on the village road. When the diseased Brahmin reached Kurma’s house, he heard the news of Mahaprabhu’s departure. Immediately he fainted with great grief. Suddenly Mahaprabhu appeared to him and embraced him.

‘vāsudeva’-nāma eka dvija mahāśaya

sarvāṅge galita kuṣṭha, tāte kīḍā-maya

Translation: There was also a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, who was a great person but was suffering from leprosy. Indeed, his body was filled with living worms.

aṅga haite yei kīḍā khasiyā paḍaya

uṭhāñā sei kīḍā rākhe sei ṭhāña

Translation: Although suffering from leprosy, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was enlightened. As soon as one worm fell from his body, he would pick it up and place it back again in the same location.

rātrite śunilā teṅho gosāñira āgamana

dekhibāre āilā prabhāte kūrmera bhavana

Translation: Then one night Vāsudeva heard of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s arrival, and in the morning he came to see the Lord at the house of Kūrma.

prabhura gamana kūrma-mukhete śuniñā

bhūmite paḍilā duḥkhe mūrcchita hañā

Translation: When the leper Vāsudeva came to Kūrma’s house to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was informed that the Lord had already left. The leper then fell to the ground unconscious.

aneka prakāra vilāpa karite lāgilā

sei-kṣaṇe āsi’ prabhu tāṅre āliṅgilā

Translation: When Vāsudeva, the leper brāhmaṇa, was lamenting due to not being able to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord immediately returned to that spot and embraced him. At that time Vasudeva said that I am a great sinner. Moreover I am suffering from leprosy. Please do not touch me! Mahaprabhu said, He whose mouth is always chanting the names of Krishna is the dearest to me. Besides, you are very pure by heart. Even the impure becomes pure by your touch. Saying this Mahaprabhu forcefully picked up that Brahmin and embraced him. By the divine touch of Mahaprabhu, Vasudeva’s severe leprosy was completely cured. He attained a very beautiful divine body. Seeing the miracle of Mahaprabhu’s grace, everybody became surprised. Vasudeva Vipra said, “My Lord, You have shown me so much mercy! You cured my disease and gave me a divine body. But this will make me proud. O Lord, why are you deluding me?” Mahaprabhu said, “Always chant the names of Krishna. No ego will develop ever. In this way Mahaprabhu bestowed His Kṛṣṇa-prema to Vasudeva Vipra. After delivering him, Mahaprabhu proceeded towards Rameswara. Since then both the Brahmins practised and preached the teachings of Mahaprabhu and made their lives successful.