Srimushnam is one of the world’s eight great swayamvyakta kshetras (self-existent sacred places of Divine origin) held in very high esteem by the Hindus. The sanctity of this place, the supreme glory of Bhuvarahamurti who has incarnated therein, the special purity of the holy waters of this place are dealt with a length in the Skanda, the Brahmanda, the Varaha and Naradiya puranas, Vishnu Purana, Sribhagavata, Mahabharata and Padma purana.
These puranas present a vivid account of the advent of Bhagavan, the Adorable Lord, from Sri Vaikunta into the mundane world in Krtayuga of the 28th chaturyuga of Vaivasvatha manvantara of Svetavarhakalpa. In this incarnation, Bhagavan, as Sri Varahamurti, killed the demon, Hiranyaksha and rescued Bhumi Devi (Mother Earth) from the bottom of the seas in Pathala Loka, wherein the asura had kept her concealed. Eloborate descriptions of these events and of the spiritual merit of the holy waters of this kshetra are found in the puranas.