![[casting of herbs to the ocean of milk]](artwork/churningocean.jpg) |
| DEVAS AND ASURAS CASTING HERBS INTO THE OCEAN
OF MILK |
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| CHURNING OF THE OCEAN BY THE DEVAS AND ASURAS |
![[the mandara mountain slipping to the ocean bed]](artwork/churningocean3.jpg) |
| MANDARA MOUNT SLIDING INTO THE OCEAN BED |
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| VISHNU AS KURMA (TORTOISE) SUPPORTING THE MANDARA
MOUNTAIN |
Brihaspati was very clever. He met the demons, managed cleverly to bring about
friendship between them and the gods and arranged to make them churn the milky
sea. The demons agreed in the hope of getting ambrosia and wealth. Thus having
gained the consent of the Asuras of their help the Devas began the offerings
and worship of the ocean of milk. The Devas and Asuras cast all kinds of plants
and herbs into ocean of milk.
The Asuras and the Devas all gathered together to accomplish the feat of getting
the
Mandara Mountain. They reached the plain where the majestic mount sat and
after great deal of digging managed to uproot it from its spot. They then tried
to carry the Mandara Mountain, but the weight of the mountain crushed them down.
Many perished and some were injured.
Just then Vishnu came there and with a glance
revived everyone and ordered Garuda to carry Mandara to the ocean. Garuda carried
on his back the mount MANDARA and leaded it to seashore and dipped it in the
sea of milk.
They tied Vasuki, the king of snakes, as a rope. The demons at one
end and gods at the other end held Vasuki and commenced churning the sea.
 |
| VISHNU AS KURMA (TORTOISE) SUPPORTING THE MANDARA
MOUNTAIN |
The churning continued for a time without any hitch, then the mount Mandara began
sliding into the ocean bed. The Devas as well as the Asuras where at loss, they
could not continue the churning of the ocean without Mandara. They pleaded with
Vishnu for mercy.
Vishnu hearing the cries once gain came to the rescue. Vishnu
then took the body of a KURMA tortoise and brought to the surface the Mountain,
which was at the bottom of the sea. Mandara was hoisted on the back of the tortoise and was floating.
The Devas and the Asuras breathed a sigh of relief, now they could continue with
the churning of the ocean. The Devas and the Asuras with the renewed zest and
with the encouragement from Vishnu began the churning of ocean once again.
|
