Samudra Manthan – The Churning of the Ocean

Samudra Manthan – The Churning of the Ocean

Samundra Manthan is also known as Kshirsagar manthan meaning churning of the ocean of milk. This episode was an elaborate process to gain the immortal nectar by deities and demons. During the process, various valuable items came out of the ocean that was then divided between the two sides.

 Legend

Indra (God of Thunder and Lightning) was presented with a special garland by a sage named Durvasa. He was traveling with his elephant, Airavata. Indra after accepting the garland, he placed it on the trunk of the elephant. Irritated by its smell, the elephant threw the garland on the ground. Taking it as an insult, the sage cursed Indra and deprived him and all the other Gods from their powers. As soon as the demons came to know about the vulnerable condition of the Gods, they defeated them and took control over the universe. 

Gods then went to Lord Vishnu (One of the Supreme Gods of Hindus, also known as the Preserver) for help. He asked the deities to manipulate the demons and tell them about the nectar that can make anyone immortal but to gain that one has to churn the water of the ocean. 

Deities took the advice and went to demons with the proposal, to which they easily agreed. A mountain named Mandara (believed to be the abode of Lord Krishna, incarnation of Vishnu) was used as the churning rod and Vasuki, the King of serpents, who rests at the throat of Lord Shiva (one of the Supreme Gods of Hindus, also known as the Destructor) played the role of the churning rope. 

Demons decided to hold the face of the serpent and deities held the tail. Demons were poisoned by the fumes emitted by Vasuki throughout the process. Both the teams started pulling the snake to and fro alternatively thus causing the mountain to rotate. Soon the mountain started sinking in the water. Vishnu then came to the rescue and took the form of a turtle, Kurma and held the mountain on his back... Read More