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Kurma, the Tortoise, was used for support to mount Mandara, as a churn dasher, when the devas and the asuras churned the ocean (Samudramathana).
Further to Pralaya-Deluge at the begining of the present Kalpa
the Gods lost the immortality. So they decided to go to Vishnu, who presereves
the order of the universe, to beg help. Vishnu suggested to make peace with
the asura, enemies and cousins of the devas', to work toghether to obtain the
Amrita, the nectar of immortality, then he changed into a tortoise and
plunged into ocean. The devas casted all kinds of plants and herbs into ocean
of milk. Garuda carried on his back the mount Mandara and leaded it to seasohre.
Vasuki, king of the serpents, was used as rope for turning it, on one hand the
devas, on the other the asuras churned the ocean of milk. The churning first
threw up Visha (or Halahala), the poison. Shiva
removed the poison swallowing it, so the churning started again, and many precious
things rose up. Then emerged the jar of the nectar Amrita-Soma. Suddenly
the asuras, forgetting their agreement, take possession of the jar all for themselves.
So Vishnu took on the form of Mohini, the most beautiful woman ever seen, and
approaced the asuras. These last intoxicated, regardless of the nectar, surrounded
the woman, thus the devas alone drank the nectar of immortality, not a drop
was left to the asuras.
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