Tortoises and Turtles: myth and reality, their Scientific importance in the traditional cultures of the world! [2]

Tortoises and Turtles: myth and reality, their Scientific importance in the traditional cultures of the world! [2]

Maharashtra calls off turtle festival: In Maharashtra’s Velas and Anjarle villages in the state’s Ratnagiri district along the Konkan coast, the gram panchayat (village committee) and local community members were unanimous in calling off the turtle festivals that span through March each year, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. In Ratnagiri out of 14 nesting sites, the festival is organized only in two villages, Velas and Anjarle, The turtle festival was initially started as a one-day event by SNM in 2006 in Velas as part of community conservation. Along the Konkan coast where the nesting happens, local communities would eat the turtle eggs. Thus, the contradiction is exposed. How the tamasha of celebration of protection of turtles, eggs etc., at one end and eating of turtle eggs could go together. In Assam, the nature-lovers have found a method of leaving “Black turtles” in the temple tanks, so that they grow easily and freely.

Importance of Olive Ridley Turtle:  Hindu Mythology worships sea / oceanic turtles as incarnation of God. Thus, most fishing communities do not consume turtle’s eggs or meats for this reason.  Modem science shows that sea turtles have been swimming the ocean for well over 100 million years even predating many Dinosaurs.  It symbolizes in mythologies of many indigenous cultures. Thus proving the antiquity of the tortoises and turtles. It represents creation, longevity and wisdom.  It forms an integral part in maintaining marine eco-system.  It is an indicator of the vitality of the overall marine environment. Even, in international turtle day and other depictions, the impact can be noticed that turtles and tortoises are always associated with the globe, cardinal points and oceans. But, all these factors are easily taken into account when they are made as God, that too, incarnation of Vishnu. That many saints, Ramanujacharya, Narahari Thirtha, Caitanya and others had been visiting these sacred places for centuries prove that all these eco-factors were already taken care of by them.

Difference between Tortoise and Turtle:  Many many not know the difference between tortoise and turtle, but, they have specific differences as follows:

Tortoise	Turtle
Tortoise live primarily on land	Turtle, live primarily in sea and freshwater
Tortoises are herbivorous	Turtles are omnivorous
Shell of Tortoise is dome-shaped and heavier	The shell of Turtles is more or less flat and lighter
Tortoise generally does not swim and dive and generally stay in one area	turtle swim, dive and migrate from one area to other.
The tortoise can withdraw the entire part inside the shell	Turtle cannot do so.
Tortoise is having normal feet without webbing	Turtle is having webbed toes with a flipper to facilitate swimming
On an average Tortoise lays 1-12 eggs	whereas Turtle lays 100-150 eggs.

The Global Positioning System (GPS): That turtles would return to the same place has already been pointed out as mentioned in the Indian literature, whereas, scientists have proved now. Scientists have long known that the turtles, like many animals, navigate at sea by sensing the invisible lines of the magnetic field, similar to how sailors use latitude and longitude[1]. But they didn’t know how the turtles were able to return to the very spot where they were born[2]. They reported that it was because the turtles rely on Earth’s magnetic field to find their egg-laying beach. Each part of the coastline has its own magnetic signature, which the animals remember and later use as an internal compass. Sea turtles use the earth’s magnetic fields to navigate back to the area where they were born decades earlier, according to a new study that used loggerhead genetics to investigate their travels[3]. The turtles can perceive both the magnetic field’s intensity and its inclination angle, the angle that the field lines make with respect to the Earth’s surface, earlier research has shown[4]. It is good that science and religion go together.

World ancient civilizations and cultures had the myth of earth supported by a turtle: According to the North American folklore, the continent of America is referred to as “Turtle Island,” as they believed that the weight of the continent was carried on a turtle’s back. The Wyandot thought that earthquakes were caused by the turtle’s shifting of his weight when got tired. Iroquoian belief that earth is supported by a turtle has been discussed by many anthropologists. In Chinese mythology, the turtle is the only living sacred animal and considered a symbol of wisdom, longevity, and wealth. They also believed that the shell of a turtle has markings of heaven, earth and the universe. They even used turtle shells at ceremonies to predict the future. According to Converse and Parker, the Iroquois faith shared with Hindu and other religions the “belief that the earth is supported by a gigantic turtle.” Here, the point has been that the turtles and tortoises resemble men, teach lessons and exhibit proof for their integrity and honesty. They live with the earth withstanding all-natural disturbances and disasters. They come to their places, lay eggs, hatch and go away, but, again come back to the same places.

Indians had their own educational methodology to teach difference audiences: That Indians had Vedas, Vedangas, Upanishads, Itihasas, Puranas, Siddhantas etc., prove that they had various audience or students for learning different subjects[5]. The Puranas had / have been to address different types of common men with varied interests, avocations and vacations. Thus, the choice of a temple for Kurmam has been well thought of by the experts and accommodated in their religious sacraments, rituals and pujas, during the first centuries and well developed in the medieval period. Of course, the disturbances of the Mohammedans and Colonial forces have been more than that of the natural disturbances and disasters and hence, it has been very difficult to demythologize and understand and bring out history. Throughout the world, the tortoise has been used as a base or supporting the upper portion of statue, sculpture etc., can be seen in many monuments. Now, other people might forget their significance. But, in India, in the temple worship itself, it is preserved and continued. And that is why, if a careful study is conducted, the facts are being verified, confirmed and made matching with the ancient literature. In India, it is possible even today. The colonial forces and the western expertise in Indology knew very well about the scientific content couched inside the puranic garb. But they wanted to dub them as myth, characterizing the devout Hindus as four blind men describing an elephant idiotically. Whereas, the elephant and tortoise myth many more scientific studies conducted, but, perhaps, suppressed from or known less among Indians, as none of the material evidences are here.

The fossil background of the Tortoise, Siwalik range etc: Col. Wilford, F. E. Pargiter, D. C. Sircar, S. M. Ali[6], Maya Prasad Tripathi[7], and others have dealt with the geography, geology and cosmology as described in the Itihasas and the Puranas. They have shown that the authors of the Puranas have been updating and incorporating the geographical and geographical knowledge in the Puranas, in their own way. D. C. Sircar[8] has used inscriptions also to locate ancient cities and places. D. N. Wadia has shown the geological approach to study India and recorded the presences of fossils of men, fauna and flora also. Hugh Falconer[9] (1808-1865) discovered a fossil of a huge tortoise at the Himalayan range and he explained its significance with the “Hindu mythology”. The Siwalik Fossil Fauna contained monkeys, camels, giraffes, mixed with Anoplotherium, Sivatherium and other mammiferous remais[10].  Though his findings, interpretations and drawings were discussed, they are not known in India[11]. In fact, the material evidences and his papers have also been not accessible to Indian researchers. The particular genus Megalochelys, known as Colossochelys fossil of a tortoise, has spread to coasts of Bay of Bengal down to SEA countries till Timor islands. Thus, it explains the maritime contacts of these countries since early times. Pratik Chakrabarti and Joydeep Sen have pointed out the work done by Falconer and the significance Kurma in Indian context[12].

The exploitation of tortoise in modern days: The concept, precept and global orientation of tortoise have been incorporated in the many ancient cultures. The Jain and Buddhist literature, paintings and sculptures vividly depict such features. The caityas and stupas incorporate the Kurma concept of cardinal points. Now, Vastu experts exploit the concept of a tortoise. The conduct and celebration of “International Turtles Day” have been the commercialization of the periodical egg-laying acts of tortoises coming back to their places. Just like “”Jallik kattu,” it is explotied, in the sense, as the supporters of “Jallikkattu” eat beef etc., of cattle, they cannot be vegetarians and sathvigavdi. Irony has been, those who eat all sorts of meat and flesh propagate “Jeevakarunyam,” i.e, showing utmost sympathy, empathy and feelings towards all living things on the earth. That “Turtle” celebrates eat turtles themselves has been pointed out above. Therefore, instead of making tall claims, at least one can show a little sympathy to living creatures or keep quite.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

24-05-2020

[1] National Geographic, How Do Sea Turtles Find the Exact Beach Where They Were Born?, BY CARRIE ARNOLD, PUBLISHED JANUARY 16, 2015.

[2] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/1/150115-loggerheads-sea-turtles-navigation-magnetic-field-science/

[3] New York Times, Sea Turtles Use Magnetic Fields to Find Their Birthplace Beach, By Karen Weintraub, April 13, 2018.

[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/science/sea-turtles-magnetic-field.html

[5] It is not that the student of history should not read the books of mathematics or astronomy and vice versa, but, they may not understand without knowing and understanding the fundamentals.

[6] S. M.Ali, Geography of Puranas, New Delhi, 1966.

[7] Maya Prasad Tripathi, Development of Geographic Knowledge in Ancient India, Varanasi, 1969.

[8] D. N. Wadia, Geology of India, MacMillan, London, 1944.

[9] Probey T. Cautley (ed.), Fauna Antiqua Sivalesis being the Fossil Zoology of the Sewalik Hills in the North of India, Smith, Elder and Co, London, 1846.

 

[10] Article V, Abstract of a Discourse by Falconer on the Fossil Fauna of the Sewalik Hills, in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, John Paker, London, 1866, Volume 8, pp.107-113.

[11] Charles Murchison (ed.), Palaeontological memoirs and notes of H. Falconer, with a biographical sketch of the author, Robert Hardicke, London, 1868, Vol.I.

[12] Chakrabarti, Pratik, and Joydeep Sen. “‘The World Rests on the Back of a Tortoise’: Science and mythology in Indian history.” Modern Asian Studies 50.3 (2016): pp. 808-840.

Tortoises and Turtles: myth and reality, their Scientific importance in the traditional cultures of the world! [1]

Tortoises and Turtles: myth and reality, their Scientific importance in the traditional cultures of the world! [1]

How I got the interest in maritime studies, Cholas, turtles etc: When I was studying in the Sri Ramakrishna Mission Higher Secondary School[1], Mahalakshmi Street [South Branch], I used to participate in the drawing competition. My competitor was P. V. Ganesh. Every year, we used to get first or second prize and in one year, for the first prize, I was given “Mungil kottai” a historical novel by Sandilyan. Of course, the writer Sandilyan [Bhashyam Iyengar] was residing in one of the houses, opposite to our school. Whenever, any exigency arose, the school authorities would go to him and invite him to preside over functions. Thus, he came and presented the book. I read it completely. Interested by the historical background, I went to the Local Library authority Library[2] and asked for a book written by Chandilyan. The librarian [Murugesan] shouted at me, “What, you are school boy, you want to read Chandilyan?” I told, “Yes, I got a book written by him as a prize. I am told, he wrote some book on shipping etc, I want that book.” He was abusing me, grumbling and finally, he brought “Kadal pura” from the shelf and gave to me with a grim face, of course with a warning also, “All these are not good, boy!” [If you read or imagine in Tamil his reaction could be understood.]

Candilyan’s Kadal pura [Historical novel] quoting the book of Radhakumud Mookerji on Indian shipping…….

Kadal pura, the Puranas and the aquatic species: For the whole day, I read it continuously and completed by evening. I got a fascination for the ship, captain “Agutha”, ocean, travelling by ship, boat, fish, tortoise, whale etc. As it was the first part, I rushed to the library asking for the second part. He was so furious shouting, “Do you think that we do not have any other work here………………go away………I shall cancel your membership………….” I was simply standing there….The closing time was approaching. I was struggling to request him with fear, “Sir…………………” He started locking book bureau one by one.  He came to me, “Go and come tomorrow, we can give only one book a day.” I returned with disgust, but, thinking of more about tortoises, kurmavatara etc., as I already read the Puranas in Tamil written by Srivatsa Somadeva Sarma[3] of “Vaithika Dharma Varthini”.

Sri Kurmanatha Swamy temple – pillars with inscriptions.

Sandilyan’s methodology of writing a historical novel: Anyway, I could read all the three volumes of “Kadal pura” and “Yavana Rani” also. Sandilyan used to give references of books, he relied upon to write the novels and also record, where those books were available. For example, he mentioned, “Radhakumud Mukherjee, Indian shipping available at Connemara library,” in the footnote in Kadalpura. I started insisting my uncle to take me to Connemara Library and get the book. He asked me mildly, “You cannot read such books, as the (English) language would be very difficult for you to understand.” As I continuously harassed me with my pranks, he took me to the library and got the book also. He taught me English and used to correct my papers. Thus, my interest in shipping, waters, fish etc. Once I got down into our well, but could not climb up. I was inside for one hour, then, “Thurwar-persons”[4] came and brought out of the well. During 1980s, I took a full-fledged interest in the Cholas and their maritime activities.

The location of Sri Kurmanatha Swamy temple, very near to the coast of Bay of Bengal or the Cholas lake. And it is near to Orissa cities on the coast, where the turtles lay eggs during the March season.

The location of Srikurmam, Sun temple, Rushikula river etc…The Sweta Pusjkarni is shown below:

A turtle coming out of sea waters.

A turtle coming out of sea waters and reaching the sand.

A turtle coming out of sea waters and reaching the sand. It roams for a while and turns towards sea……

going back to sea-waters……………

We see them one taking rest on the beach…….

We touch to know……………………………..

We touch to know……………………………..

Another delegate / friend wants to touch………………….

Decoding the myth of Kurmavatara: Earlier, I read all Puranas, Itihasas and related books in Tamil till school and then in English after college. Definitely, the Kurma Purana gives intrinsic and clear-cut details about the creation of the world, life, animate and inanimate things, etc., particularly, how they were brought out of the darkness. Interestingly, Kurma Purana has been translated into the major European languages including English, German and French. The extant Kurma-Purana, has been classified as a 15^th Mahapurana and is dated to 4^th to 9^th centuries period CE, considering the interpolations. The Puranas mention five characteristics or main topics of a Purana[5] (especially of a Mahapurana), viz –

sarga (creation),

pratisarga (dissolution and re-creation),

vamsa (dynastic lists or genealogy of kings, sages and gods),

Manvantara.’s (periods of Manu-s each being equal to 71 Mahayuga-s) and

the vamsanucarita (accounts of individual kings, ‘sages, and gods mentioned in the genealogical lists).

In Kurmapurana, all details are available. The Khurma / Tortoise was taken figuratively for the flat surface of the earth with its cardinal points. These details have been found in the ancient literature of all other ancient civilizations. But, after the medieval period and colonization, most of the literature and medieval evidences were destroyed and hence they are not discussed. As the earth floats in the cosmos with its oceanic waters, mountains etc., attracted towards its centre with the force of gravitation, the tortoise too controls and protects its body by withdrawing all its limbs within the shell. The mathematics of Srichakra and Mahmeru are also linked, as the 3D structure is carried on its back. The idea conveyed is that these figures are perfect to be obtained in reality.

Visiting sea coasts, temples connected with turtle etc: I had an opportunity to visit Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Maldives to attend conferences. At those times, I went to maritime museums, beaches and interacted with the local people enquiring details about the medieval maritime activities connected with the Cholas. Only a few could give details about the past, as most of the guides and local people either they deny that they do anything or avoid discussion and go away apologetically. I visited Bengal, Assam, Megalyaya, Tripura, and Orissa many times to attend conferences and seminars. I could find the Cholas connection with Orissa and Bengal. When I started visiting Andhra Pradesh, now Telangana also to attend APHC and THC also, I could visit many coastal cities and towns up to Orissa / Odhissa. . Along with some delegates of APHC, in January  8^th to 10^th, 2016, when I was in Srikakulam, visited the temples situated near to the coast and the beach also. But, as modernization goes fast in the construction of buildings, roads and others, slowly, the temple surroundings are changing. Everybody is interested in commercialization of everything, forgetting the past.

Sri Kurmam, Kurmanatha Swamy Temple: Sri Kurmam is a village in the Gara Mandal of Srikakulam, located approximately 13 km east of Srikakulam town near the sea. It is located at a latitude of 18° 16′ N, a longitude of 84° 1′ E and an altitude of 17 meters (59 feet), thus puts the temple about 3 km from the Bay of Bengal. According to inscriptions in the temple dated 1281 CE, the Kürmakshetra was re-established by Sri Ramanujacharya under the influence of Jagannatha Deva at Jagannatha Puri. Later the temple came under the jurisdiction of the king of Vijayanagara. The visit of Ramanuja in the eleventh century created a religious fervour among the people both in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh towards Vaisnava movement.

The temple is dedicated to Sri Kurmanatha, the second avatar of Lord Vishnu, Kurma Avatar. Srikurmam inscription mentions that the daughters of certain Nayak families of Kalinga were accepted as dancing girls in the temple of Srikurmam which was encouraged by Narasinghadev I. The first known identification of the deity of Puri temple as Jagannatha comes from the Srikurmam inscription[6] of Bhanudeva II, which is dated to 1309 CE. Incidentally, Bhanudeva – II has been mentioned with an epithet, “viswabhara-bhara-vahana-mahaniya” –  that is just like Vishnu-Purushottama, he carried the burden of the earth on the back in the form of a tortoise[7].  Narahari Tirtha (d. 1333 CE) was a scholar and one of the disciples of Madhvacharya (1238-1317 CE), who patronized the temple. Traditionally, Narahari is also considered to be the founder of Yakshagana and Bayalata, a dance form which still flourishes in parts of Karnataka and Kasargod in present-day Kerala.

Narahari Thirth in Kalinga from 1264-1294 CE: Many inscriptions at Srikurmam and Simhchalam refer to Narahari Bhrathi, Narahari Maphada or Narahari Tirth giving authentic information about his activities in Kalinga. The accession of Bhanudeva I to the Ganga throne in 1264 coincided with the arrival of Narahari Thirtha in Kalinga after his initiation to Dvaita philosophy by Madhva. He remained in Kalinga till 1294 and wielded considerable influence during the reign of Bhanudeva I and his son Narasiroha II. Narahari Thirtha left Kalinga in 1294 during the reign of Narasimha II. He constructed a temple of Yogananda Narasimha in front of the temple of Srikurmam in 1281. Generally, it is done to reduce the “ugra” (great effect, affecting certain devotees). Before Narahari Tirtha left Kalinga he installed the idols of Rama, Sita and Laxmana in the premises of Srikurmam temple. A. K. Mohanty[8] has rightly pointed out, “The humble beginning made by Ramanuja culminated into a cultural revolution by the activities of Narahari Tirtha. Ramanuja had simply converted Srikurmam and Simhachalam temples as Vaisnava shrines but Narahari Tirtha raised these two places as great centres of Vaisnava religion and faith…… Ramanuja and Sri Chaitanya came and left, but Narahari Tirtha remained with the people, spent 30 years with them,……”. Thus, the great services of Narahari Tirtha have to be remembered. In the temple itself, there as been a space for tortoises to roam and they are protected.

Rushikulya river and the place, where turtles visit to lay eggs: The eastern Indian state of Odisha is known worldwide for seasonally hosting olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) en masse as they visit the seashore along the Bay of Bengal for mass nesting[9]. This spring (March 2020), however, heralded a surprise for the marine conservationists and state forest department, who witnessed mass nesting of the species during the day after nearly seven years[10]. Rushikulya is situated in the Ganjam district of Odisha along the Bay of Bengal and is one of the most prominent locations for olive ridley mass nesting, an annual feature where female turtles arrive on the beach to prepare their nests and lay their eggs[11]. Such mass nesting events are called arribadas (a Spanish word meaning arrival).

Nesting of olive ridley turtles, Odisha – March 14 to 21:  Coming to the turtles laying eggs, hatching, preservation etc., the efforts taken are discussed. The olive ridley turtle is considered the most abundant sea turtle in the world, with an estimated 8,00,000 nesting females annually[12]. The olive ridley is globally distributed in the tropical regions of the South Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They are listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red list and are also protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. According to wildlife experts, in India, while states like Maharashtra, Goa, and the offshore Andaman islands witness sporadic nesting of olive ridley turtles, Odisha is the only state in India that sees mass nesting of olive ridley turtles. Rushikulya and Gahirmatha are the two principal mass nesting sites at this point in Odisha. the Rushikulya rookery hosted 330,000 olive ridleys during this mass nesting phase. The breeding season for the turtles spreads from November to May including mating, nesting, and hatching. Each turtle can lay between 100 to 160 eggs in an hour,” explained Sahu. At Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, as many as 407,194 olive ridley turtles laid eggs from March 14 to March 21. Combined with the number of turtles that nested at Rushikulya, government officials claim close to 800,000 turtles have come to nest.  As per the Forest Department, till the second week, more than 2,78,502 female turtles have nested at the coast[13]. This year, they have estimated that at least 4.75 lakh turtles would come out to nest on the Rushikulya beach alone[14]. According to estimates, more than six crore eggs would be laid this year 2020. The Gahirmatha Beach in Kendrapara district of Odisha (India), which is now a part of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, is the largest breeding ground for these turtles. Between 1993 and 2003, more than 100,000 olive ridley turtles were reported dead in Odisha, India from fishery-related practices[15]. Another major project, in India involved in preserving the olive ridley sea turtle population, was carried out in Chennai, where the Chennai wildlife team collected close to 10,000 eggs along the Marina coast, of which 8,834 hatchlings were successfully released into the sea in a phased manner[16]. Under the guise of preserving the turtles etc., these activities have been going on. Who is sponsoring for the activities, etc., are not known. How the common people of India are going to get benefitted also not known. But, in the concept of “Kurmavatara,” the tortoises and turtles have been divinized and even made God and hence respected, venerated and protected in the sanctum sanctorum.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

24-05-2020

[1] Sri Ramakrishna Mission Higher Secondary School has three branches – Main (opposite to Panagal Park), North (Next to NTR House) and South (Mahalakksmi st) – all in T. Nagar.

[2]  At that time it was situated just opposite to the “National Theatre,” Lake View Road, West Mambalam, Madras.

[3] His house was there in the Station Road, West Mambalam. I used to go to him to buy books and magazine.

[4] The experts, who could jump into well waters, scoop out dirt and make water good. They would come with ropes and assistants.

[5] Ahibhushan Bhattacharya, The Kurma Purana (with English translation), All India Kashi Raj Trust, Varanasi, 1972, Introduction, pp.i-iii.

[6] Epigraphia Indica, Vol. V, p. 35. Also see D.C. Sircar, “Ganga Bhanudeva II and PurushottamaJagannatha”, Journal of the Kalinga Historical Research Society, Vol. 1, No. 3, p. 251-53.

[7] JASB, Vo.XVII, p.195.

[8] Mohanty, Abhay Kumar, Narahari Tirtha a study of his life and work, PhD thesis, Utkal University, 1993

[9] Mongabay, Olive ridleys day-nest in Odisha after seven years, but no link to lockdown say experts, by Manish Kumar, Sahana Ghosh on 1 April 2020

[10] https://india.mongabay.com/2020/04/olive-ridleys-day-nest-in-odisha-after-seven-years-but-no-link-to-lockdown-say-experts/

[11] The Hindu, Undisturbed mass nesting of Olive Ridleys at Odisha’s Rushikulya rookery, Sib Kumar Das, BERHAMPUR, MARCH 25, 2020 21:43 IST, UPDATED: MARCH 26, 2020 09:55 IST

[12] https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/coronavirus-lockdown-undisturbed-mass-nesting-of-olive-ridleys-at-odishas-rushikulya-rookery/article31166566.ece

[13] Times of India / India Times, Turtles return to Odisha’s coast for nesting as humans are locked inside, TRAVEL NEWS, ORISSA, Mar 27, 2020, 11.31 IST

[14] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/lakhs-of-endangered-olive-riley-turtles-return-to-odishas-coast-for-nesting-as-humans-are-locked-inside/as74841524.cms

[15] Deccan Chronicle, Over 8,000 turtle hatchlings released, DC Correspondent, Published May 23, 2014, 12:01 pm IST; Updated Apr 1, 2019, 6:22 am IST

[16] https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140523/nation-current-affairs/article/over-8000-turtle-hatchlings-released