The assembled sages wanted to know why the Cosmic Ocean was churned. Sauti continued.
Vishnu once told Brahma to have the cosmic ocean of milk churned. There was the nectar of immortality inside that ocean. In the war between the Gods and the Evil Forces, the nectar was needed to get the fallen Gods back to life. The mountain, Mandara, was to be used as a churning pole. With all the medicinal plants that grew on it, Mandara was needed.
The Gods hearing this went to the mountain. It was huge in size, try as much as they could, they were unable to life the mountain. Failing, they went to Vishnu and said they needed his help. With the help of Vishnu, they were able to get the mountain. Now when they placed the mountain in the water, it began to sink. The Ocean said there was a giant tortoise in the water. That tortoise would be able to hold the mountain on its back. The tortoise was called, and it supported the mountain on its back.
Approaching the snake Vasuki, they requested him to be used as a rope for the churning. Vasuki agreed and the devas brought him over.
The churning began. Both the devas and the demons took sides and began the process. With constant friction, Vasuki began to feel irritated. The irritation came out in the form of steam which began covering the atmosphere. The steam went up in the skies and became clouds. Rain started falling and the tired devas and danavas felt relaxed. With constant churning, Mandara starting burning and that began showing up as volcanoes. Seeing this, Indra, God of Rains, had rain fall on the mountain to cool it down.
The churning continued but the nectar was not in sight. The Gods approached Brahma and told him they had been churning away but nothing was coming up.
Brahma asked Vishnu for help. Vishnu helped removed the tiredness of all, and with new vigor the churning began.
After sometime, the Moon appeared from the ocean. With its cooling light, everyone felt relaxed.
Then came the elephant, Airavat. It was regal to look, white in color. Then came the horse, Uchchaihshravas.
After the horse came the wish fulfilling tree, Parijat. Along with this gems and other precious things came out of the ocean. Then came Dhanvantari.
It was time to stop the churning, but the Gods were not sure how to do so.
They approached Vishnu. They were told by the ocean to have Vishnu be pleased by having his worship done by the wonderful looking woman who was to appear from the ocean. After some more churning, a wonderful looking Goddess appeared. This was Lakshmi who had been cursed to vanish in the ocean.
Ocean himself arranged for the lady to approach Vishnu. The other Gods and Goddesses with fans, fanned the Goddess while she decked in jewels, walked towards Vishnu.
Such was her glow, that even the Sun was dimmed. Her eyes like lotus petals. Everyone was queuing up to have a glimpse at this Goddess. Prayers filled the air. The apsaras started dancing while the Goddess walked by.
The Ocean, along with Goddess approached Vishnu and asked for his help to stop the churning. Vishnu said the churning had no meaning now, as Lakshmi was back. Lakshmi had been cursed by Durvasa to reside in the Cosmic Ocean. Now that prosperity was back, they could just leave the mountain and snake alone and stop the churning.
Leaving Lakshmi with Vishnu, the Gods left.
Vishnu once told Brahma to have the cosmic ocean of milk churned. There was the nectar of immortality inside that ocean. In the war between the Gods and the Evil Forces, the nectar was needed to get the fallen Gods back to life. The mountain, Mandara, was to be used as a churning pole. With all the medicinal plants that grew on it, Mandara was needed.
The Gods hearing this went to the mountain. It was huge in size, try as much as they could, they were unable to life the mountain. Failing, they went to Vishnu and said they needed his help. With the help of Vishnu, they were able to get the mountain. Now when they placed the mountain in the water, it began to sink. The Ocean said there was a giant tortoise in the water. That tortoise would be able to hold the mountain on its back. The tortoise was called, and it supported the mountain on its back.
Approaching the snake Vasuki, they requested him to be used as a rope for the churning. Vasuki agreed and the devas brought him over.
The churning began. Both the devas and the demons took sides and began the process. With constant friction, Vasuki began to feel irritated. The irritation came out in the form of steam which began covering the atmosphere. The steam went up in the skies and became clouds. Rain started falling and the tired devas and danavas felt relaxed. With constant churning, Mandara starting burning and that began showing up as volcanoes. Seeing this, Indra, God of Rains, had rain fall on the mountain to cool it down.
The churning continued but the nectar was not in sight. The Gods approached Brahma and told him they had been churning away but nothing was coming up.
Brahma asked Vishnu for help. Vishnu helped removed the tiredness of all, and with new vigor the churning began.
After sometime, the Moon appeared from the ocean. With its cooling light, everyone felt relaxed.
Then came the elephant, Airavat. It was regal to look, white in color. Then came the horse, Uchchaihshravas.
After the horse came the wish fulfilling tree, Parijat. Along with this gems and other precious things came out of the ocean. Then came Dhanvantari.
It was time to stop the churning, but the Gods were not sure how to do so.
They approached Vishnu. They were told by the ocean to have Vishnu be pleased by having his worship done by the wonderful looking woman who was to appear from the ocean. After some more churning, a wonderful looking Goddess appeared. This was Lakshmi who had been cursed to vanish in the ocean.
Ocean himself arranged for the lady to approach Vishnu. The other Gods and Goddesses with fans, fanned the Goddess while she decked in jewels, walked towards Vishnu.
Such was her glow, that even the Sun was dimmed. Her eyes like lotus petals. Everyone was queuing up to have a glimpse at this Goddess. Prayers filled the air. The apsaras started dancing while the Goddess walked by.
The Ocean, along with Goddess approached Vishnu and asked for his help to stop the churning. Vishnu said the churning had no meaning now, as Lakshmi was back. Lakshmi had been cursed by Durvasa to reside in the Cosmic Ocean. Now that prosperity was back, they could just leave the mountain and snake alone and stop the churning.
Leaving Lakshmi with Vishnu, the Gods left.
No comments:
Post a Comment