SAMUDRA MANTHANAM
KSHIRASAGARA
CHURNING THE OCEAN
The central account of creation in Hindu tradition
is known as the “Churning of the Ocean.” The
best known account is found in the Bhagavata
Purana, datable to either 900 CE or 3000 BCE.
The tale involves a combined action of gods and
spirits to gain soma or ambrosia or amrita.
• A synopsis of the tale:
• 'Samudra-manthana' or churning of ocean is a widely known episode of
Indian mythology. Several ancient Indian texts have allusions to the
legend, but the Vishnu Purana, Harvamsha Purana and Dasavatara Purana
are more elaborate in their details. The legend of the churning of ocean
relates primarily to Lord Vishnu's second incarnation as Kurma, or
tortoise, and the emergence of Shri or Lakshmi from the womb of ocean.
'Puranas' have a number of legends leading to 'Samudra-manthana'.
Some say the ocean was churned for recovering the precious jewels lost
in great deluge. Others say the aged gods had grown weak and decrepit
and for reviving their youth and vigour stood in dire need of nectar which
lied buried deep into the womb of ocean. But, weak as they were, they
could not churn the ocean and discover nectar from its womb. On the
advice of Vishnu they conciliated with demons and persuaded them to
jointly churn it.The episode relating to the curse of sage Durvasa is,
however, a more widely acknowledged cause leading to 'Samudramanthana'. It is said sage Durvasa once visited Vaikuntha, the abode of
Lord Vishnu. In reverence to the great sage, when seeing him off, Vishnu
garlanded him with the celestial flowers of Parijata, pregnant with
inexhaustible sweet honey and never fading. On way back Durvasa met
Indra riding his Airavata. Durvasa thought that to a recluse the garland of
Parijata was hardly of any use and that Indra better deserved for it. He
hence placed the garland on Indra's neck, but the conceited Indra
neglectfully hurled the garland on his elephant's head. The sweet
fragrance of 'parijata' flowers invited bees, which irritated Airavata and
the elephant tore the garland, threw it down and crushed under his feet.
• Durvasa felt insulted and cursed Indra to become devoid of all
splendour and riches. Instantly 'Shri', the presiding deity of riches,
splendour and fertility, deserted Indra and all three worlds that he
ruled. She disappeared into Khsirasagar, the ocean of milk. Bereft
of all grandeur and prowess Indra and other gods approached
Brahma who after hearing their plight invoked Vishnu. Vishnu
appeared and said that churning of Kshirasagar was the only way
for recovering 'Shri' from it. This they could not do alone, hence
they should conciliate with 'asuras' and persuade them to
participate in the act of ocean churning. Vishnu said that Mount
Mandara could be used as the churning rod and the Great Serpent
Vasuki as the rope.As ordained by Lord Vishnu gods approached
'asuras' and reconciled with them. After they agreed, Mount
Mandara was uprooted and laid into the ocean and Vasuki coiled
around it. Vishnu himself appeared on the scene and asked the
'asuras' to hold the serpent by its tail. Vishnu knew that 'asuras'
would ask for contrary to what gods proposed to them. As
expected, the 'asuras' considered it derogatory for them, the
superiors as they thought they were, to hold the tail instead the
head of the animal. It was what the gods wanted and willingly
gave them Vasuki's head portion and they held serpent's tail and
began churning Kshirasagara.
• The churning was begun. But when the Kshirasagara began
yielding jewels, one after the other - Surabhi, the celestial cow,
the divine horse Uchchishrava, elephant Airavata, Kaustubhamani, Parijat etc., they realised that Mount Mandara was sinking
into the earth and neither the gods or demons nor the Great
Serpent Vasuki were able to hold it. Amrit, the nectar, 'Shri' and
many other precious jewels had not been discovered yet. It
disappointed gods and demons alike. When yet in the gust of
disappointment they felt that the fast sinking mountain was
suddenly contained. Churning was re-commenced. Vishnu
incarnated as tortoise had stretched himself endlessly, slipped
under the churning mountain and contained it on his back. The
ocean was then further churned and were discovered from it pots
of wine, arson and nectar, Vaidya Dhanwantari, Shri or Lakshmi,
the divine conch etc.
• The full story is told in the Bhagavata Purana
and you can access it by pressing here
• The remainder of these slides is devoted to
Indian representations of the tale over the
years. We begin with the spectacular sculpted
version of the myth, over 500 years old, found
in the temple of Vishnu at Angkor Wat in
Cambodia.
•
• Below is seen the center of the panel
• To the left the spirits are led by Bali
• On the right the gods are led by
Hanuman
• Angkor Wat itself was built in imitation of the
five mountains on which the chief gods of
Hinduism reside.
Here then follow examples of the “Milk Ocean” in Indian art
Here ends for now our consideration of Samudra
Manthanam