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A depiction of Kurma, the second avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu who takes the form of a tortoise. According to Hindu belief, Kurma represents stability as he brought the gods and demons together in order to churn the Ocean of Milk.  

This painting illustrates the samudra manthan (the Churning of the Ocean of Milk). The gods (right) and demons (left) use Mount Mandara as the churning staff. Vishnu is seated on top, and the tortoise Kurma carries it on his back. They use the serpent Vasuki as a rope. On the shore are those animals, gods and objects which were emitted from the ocean as it was churned (from right to left: a pot of amrita, the nectar of immortality; Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and wealth; emeralds and rubies (representing kaustubha, the most valuable jewel in the world, worn by Vishnu); the elephant, Airavata, with three trunks; Kamadhenu, the wish-granting divine cow; the four vedas; the flowering tree with blossoms that never fade or wilt; the shankha, Vishnu's conch shell; Uchhaishravas, the divine seven-headed horse; chandra, the moon which adorned Shiva's head; Varuni, the goddess and creator of alcohol; Dhanvantari, the doctor of the gods; a sharanga, powerful bow; and a pot of halahala, the poison that can only be swallowed by Shiva.

This painting is from a series depicting the ten avatars of Vishnu. For further information on this series see RCIN 1005115.