1) Vishnu took the form of a giant tortoise to support Mount Mandara, which the gods and demons used to churn the ocean of milk. 2) As the ocean was churned, Vishnu cunningly placed the demons facing the serpent so its poisonous breath parched them more. 3) Vishnu held Mount Mandara firmly in place with his hand to prevent it from toppling over from the vigorous churning.

1. The Tortoise Incarnation

2. Sage Durvasa, once gifted to Indra, the divine garland,
presented to him by celestial maidens. That garland was
trampled upon and crushed by Iravata, lord of elephants,
belonging to Indra. Seeing this, the sage cursed him out of
anger. Since Durvasa was not born of Thee, (but of Rudra),
tolerance was not one of his qualities.

3. Due to that curse, Indra, hitherto known as Nirjara, or The
Unaging One, was afflicted by old age; the gods were
defeated by the demons and lost all their glory and strength.
Oh Thou Source of Deliverance ! All the gods including Siva
went to Brahma, and along with him came to Thee for help.

4. Oh Varada ! Grantor of Boons ! Thou whose glory was long
sung by Brahma and others, appeared before them,
radiating supreme light and ordered them to enter into a
pact with the demon race and churn the ocean for nectar.

5. Oh Vishnu ! Thou, assuming the form of a tortoise, with its
outer shell harder than diamond, and its width spanning a
lakh of yojanas, entered the depths of the ocean,
and lifted the lord of the mountains, that lay sunken there.

6. Using Vasuki, the serpent, as the churning rope, the gods
and demons began to churn the ocean of milk, with all the
vital seeds embedded in it. At that time, Thou, cunningly,
placed the demons, facing the serpent, near its mouth.

7. When the ocean was thus vigorously churned, the churning
stick, the Mandara mountain, due to its own heavy weight,
began to sink in the rolling waters below. Seeing the gods
becoming distressed by this, Thou, wishing to help them,
ook the form of a hardbacked tortoise.

8. Oh Vishnu ! Thou, assuming the form of a tortoise, with its
outer shell harder than diamond, and its width spanning a
lakh of yojanas, entered the depths of the ocean,
and lifted the lord of the mountains, that lay sunken there.

9. As the lord of mountains emerged from the water, there was
gaiety all round, and the gods and demons churned with
redoubled vigour. Thou, at that time, entered the hearts of
the two groups and the lord of serpents, enthusing them
and driving away their fatigue.

10. To prevent the Mandara mountain from being toppled,
owing to the vigorous churning and the consequent speedy
revolution, Thou, held it firmly in place with Thy lotus like
hand. Seeing this, Siva, Brahma and others, showered
flowers on Thee from the heavens and sang Thy praises full
of wonder and delight.

11. The poisonous breath emanating from the serpent's mouth,
made the demons feel parched and uncomfortable. The
gods also felt the heat, but to a lesser extent, as they
were in the rear. Owing to Thy mercy, Oh Lord ! The clouds
rained water on the gods, but not on the demons.

12. Even though the ocean was churned for a long time, with
the multitudes of whales and crocodiles swimming round in
agitation, nothing happened. Then Thou, holding the ends
of the serpent lord in Thy two hands, churned the ocean, all
by Thyself. Oh Guruvayurappa ! May Thou, of such amazing
prowess, protect me from diseases.