The Great Ocean Churning ( A repost )

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nora55_1999

 

It happen long time ago that Indra, king of the Gods, was cursed by

the great rishi Durvasas. Thereafter Indra and all the three worlds

lost their energy and strength, and all things went to ruin. They

went to Brahma for help. He advise them to seek aid from Vishnu, the

tamer of demons, the undying God, creator, preserver and destroyer.

Brahma lead the other Gods along the northern shore of the sea of

milk to Vishnu's seat, and prayed to his aid. Vishnu, bearing his

emblems of conch , disc, mace and radiant with light, appeared before

the grandsire and other deities.

 

Vishnu smiled and said : "I shall restore your strength. Do now as I

command : Cast into the Milky Sea potent herbs, then take Mount

Mandare for churning-stick, the serpent Vasuki for rope, and churn

the ocean for the dew of life. For this you need the daityas' aid;

make alliance with them, therefore, and engage to share with them the

fruit of your combined labour, promise them that by drinking the

ambrosia they shall become immortal. But I shall see to it that they

have no share of the water of life, but theirs shall be the labour

only"

 

Thus the gods entered into alliance with the demons and jointly

undertook the churning of the sea of milk. They cast into it potent

of herbs, they took Mount Mandara for the churning-stick and Vasuki

for the rope. The Gods took their station by the serpent's tail, the

Daityas at its head. Vishnu himself in a form of tortoise shape

became a pivot of the mountain as it was whirled around. He was also

present but unseen amongst the gods and demons, pulling the serpent

to and fro. In another vast body he sat upon the summit of the

mountain. With other portion of his energy he sustained the serpent

king, and infused power into the bodies of the gods.

 

As they laboured thus the flames of vasuki's breath scorched the

faces of the demons; but the clouds the drifted towards his tail

refresh the gods with vivifying showers.

 

First from the sea rose up

 

1) a wish-bestowing cow Surabhi, gladdening the eyes of the

divinities.

 

2) then came the goddess Varuni, with rolling eyes, the divinity of

wine.

 

3) The Parijata tree of paradise sprang with the delights of the

Heavens nymphs, perfuming all the world with the fragrance of its

flowers.

 

4) Rose the troops of apsaras, full of loveliness and grace

 

5) Rose the moon whom Siva seized and set upon his brow.

 

6) A draught of deadly poison that can destroy the world. Siva

took it and drank. The bitter poison turned his throat blue. He is

thereafter known as Nilakantha, the blue throat.

 

7) Came Dhanwantari, holding in his hand a cup of the dew of life,

delighting the eyes of the daityas and the rishis.

 

8) From the sea rose Goddess Lakshmi also known as Sri, the

delight of Vishnu. Radiantly seated on an open lotus. The great sky

elephant anointed her with pure water brought by Ganga and poured

from golden vessels, while the enraptured sages sand her praises. The

Milky sea adorned her with a wreath of unfading flowers. Vishwakarma

decked her with celestial jewels. The she, who was in sooth the bride

of Vishnu, cast herself upon his breast, and there reclining turned

her eyes upon the delighted gods. But little pleased were the

daityas, for now they were abandoned by the goddess of prosperity.

 

The angry daityas snatched the cup of nectar from Dhanwantari and

bore it off. But Vishnu, assuming an exquisite and ravishing woman-

form, deluded and fascinated them, and while they disagree amongst

themselves, he stole away the draught and brought it to the gods, who

drank deep from the cup of life.

 

The demons took flight and was driven into hell.

 

The sun shone clear again, the three worlds became once more

prosperous, and devotion blossomed in the hearts of every creature.

 

Indra seated upon his throne, composed a hymn of praise for Lakshmi.

She thus praised, granted him wishes.

 

This was the Indra's wishes :

 

1) that never again should Lakshmi abandon the Three worlds

 

2) never should she forsaken any that should sing her praise in

the words of Indra's hymns. And that the Goddess of Good fortune

shall never leave his house for three generations, strife or

misfortune may never enter where the hymn to Lakshmi is sung.