Stories from the Kurma Purana

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The Kurma Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas, as stated in Srimad Bhagtavatam (12.7.23-24):

The eighteen major Puranas are the Brahma, Padma, Visnu, Sina, Linga, Garuda, Narada, Bhagavata, Agni, Skanda, Bhavisya, Brahma-vaivarta, Markandeya, Vamana, Varaha, Matsya, Kurma and Brahmanda Puranas.

The Kurma Purana plays a key part in one of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya described in Sri Caitanya-caritamyta:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Kamakosthi, and then on to the southern Mathura, which is now known as Madurai.

There, a brahmana who was a great devotee and authority on Lord Ramacandra invited the Lord to lunch. However, after bathing in the River Krtamala, when the Lord went to the brahmana's house, He saw that all the food remained unprepared, because cooking had not even started. The Lord thus addressed the brahmana: My dear sir, please tell me why you have not yet begun to cook. It is already noon.

The brahmana replied: My dear Lord, we are living in the forest, and so for the time being there are no ingredients for cooking. When Laksmana brings the vegetables, fruit and roots, Sita will arrange the necessary cooking.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very satisfied to see the brahmana's method of worship. Finally, the brahmana began hastily cooking and 10, at about three o'clock in the afternoon, the Lord was able to eat His lunch. The brahmana fasted, however, being exceedingly morose, and so the Lord inquired: Why aren't you eating? Why do you appear to be so unhappy!

The brahmana explained: I have no reason for living and so I shall commit suicide by entering either water or fire. My dear sir, Sīta-devi is the mother of the universe and the supreme goddess of fortune, and yet she has been touched by the demon Ravana. Because of this, I am so miserable that I cannot bear to go on living. And yet, even though my body is burning, my life does not depart.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: Please do not think like this any longer. You are a learned pandita and so why don't you give the matter proper consideration? Sita-devi, the wife of the Supreme Lord, Ramacandra, certainly has a spiritual form, full of bliss, and thus no one has the power to even see her with material eyes, and so what to speak of touch her. Factually, when Ravana came to kidnap Sita, she immediately disappeared and then manifested a material, illusory form, just to cheat him.

My dear brahmana, please have faith in My words and do not burden your mind any longer with this misconception.

Although the brahmana had been fasting for some time, he had faith in the words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and so agreed to accept some food. In this way, his life was saved.