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| KALAKUTA ARISING FROM THE OCEAN BED |
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| SHIVA CONSUMING THE POISON - THE DREADFUL 'KALAKUTA' |
The sages began reciting hymns in praise of Lakshmi. Gandharvas sang. Apsaras
danced. The elephants on either side sprinkled sacred holy Ganga water on the
goddess and bathed her. Because the elephants sprinkled
holy water on her, she acquired the name of GAJALAKSHMI. Because she was born in the sea of milk, she
was called SAMUDRATANAYA. The king of the sea appeared in his natural form and
comforted Lakshmi as a daughter. He presented her with attractive clothes and
jewels. He handed to her a garland of lotus flowers. While
everybody was looking in surprise, Lakshmi put the garland around the neck of
Vishnu and occupied his chest. When she looked at Indra kindly, he acquired an extraordinary radiance.
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| MOHINI - THE ENCHANTRESS |
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| MOHINI SERVING NECTAR TO THE DEVAS |
The Devas and the Asuras continued the churning and finally
Dhanvantari emerged from the sea. Dhanvantrai is the doctor of gods. He had a
sacred pot in his hand. The pot contained the celestial nectar, which when consumed
would result immortality.When it became known the demons ran forward and snatched the pot. Suddenly the
Asuras, forgetting their agreement, took possession of the jar all for themselves.
Then there was fighting between the gods and the demons.
Again it was Vishnu who came to the rescue. Vishnu appeared disguised as Mohini. Mohini arose from
the ocean with all charm and grace.
As she was handsome, the demons looked at her in surprise. Mohini came near them
and said, "May I know the reason for the quarrel." The Asuras immediately
replied that the fight was for the nectar of immortality. Smilingly Mohini said, "Do
not quarrel for ambrosia. If you agree, I will myself serve ambrosia. You sit
in two rows."
The Asuras thought that a lady with such beguiling beauty and charm would not
cheat and since she was a female there was no harm in handing her the pot. So
it was agreed that Mohini would serve the nectar. The demons
sat in one row and the gods in another. By sleight-of-hand Mohini served intoxicating
drinks to the demons and ambrosia to the gods. The demons were enamored of her charm did
not notice the trick played on them. The gods drank ambrosia and became immortal.
They became free from fear of death. The demons came to know afterwards that
they had been deceived. They started a war. The gods who had gained strength
by consuming ambrosia defeated the demons and drove them away.
In his second incarnation Vishnu as Kurma saved the Devas from mortality and
loosing their authority to the wicked Asuras, thus saving the mankind. |
