Samudra Manthanam, Churning the ocean

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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 BhagavataPurana, 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 ofIndian mythology. Several ancient Indian texts have allusions to thelegend, but the Vishnu Purana, Harvamsha Purana and Dasavatara Puranaare more elaborate in their details. The legend of the churning of oceanrelates primarily to Lord Vishnu's second incarnation as Kurma, ortortoise, 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 lostin great deluge. Others say the aged gods had grown weak and decrepitand for reviving their youth and vigour stood in dire need of nectar whichlied 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 theadvice 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 'Samudra-manthana'. It is said sage Durvasa once visited Vaikuntha, the abode ofLord Vishnu. In reverence to the great sage, when seeing him off, Vishnugarlanded him with the celestial flowers of Parijata, pregnant withinexhaustible sweet honey and never fading. On way back Durvasa metIndra riding his Airavata. Durvasa thought that to a recluse the garland ofParijata was hardly of any use and that Indra better deserved for it. Hehence placed the garland on Indra's neck, but the conceited Indraneglectfully hurled the garland on his elephant's head. The sweetfragrance 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 allsplendour and riches. Instantly 'Shri', the presiding deity of riches,splendour and fertility, deserted Indra and all three worlds that heruled. She disappeared into Khsirasagar, the ocean of milk. Bereftof all grandeur and prowess Indra and other gods approachedBrahma who after hearing their plight invoked Vishnu. Vishnuappeared and said that churning of Kshirasagar was the only wayfor recovering 'Shri' from it. This they could not do alone, hencethey should conciliate with 'asuras' and persuade them toparticipate in the act of ocean churning. Vishnu said that Mount

Mandara could be used as the churning rod and the Great SerpentVasuki as the rope.As ordained by Lord Vishnu gods approached'asuras' and reconciled with them. After they agreed, MountMandara was uprooted and laid into the ocean and Vasuki coiledaround 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. Asexpected, the 'asuras' considered it derogatory for them, thesuperiors as they thought they were, to hold the tail instead thehead of the animal. It was what the gods wanted and willingly

gave them Vasuki's head portion and they held serpent's tail andbegan churning Kshirasagara.



• The churning was begun. But when the Kshirasagara beganyielding jewels, one after the other - Surabhi, the celestial cow,the divine horse Uchchishrava, elephant Airavata, Kaustubha-mani, Parijat etc., they realised that Mount Mandara was sinkinginto the earth and neither the gods or demons nor the GreatSerpent Vasuki were able to hold it. Amrit, the nectar, 'Shri' and

many other precious jewels had not been discovered yet. Itdisappointed gods and demons alike. When yet in the gust ofdisappointment they felt that the fast sinking mountain wassuddenly contained. Churning was re-commenced. Vishnuincarnated as tortoise had stretched himself endlessly, slippedunder the churning mountain and contained it on his back. The

ocean was then further churned and were discovered from it potsof 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

http://www.bsu.edu/classes/magrath/churn/churn.html

http://www.bsu.edu/classes/magrath/churn/churn.html



• 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 thefive mountains on which the chief gods of

Hinduism reside.



















Here ends for now our consideration of Samudra

Manthanam

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Samudra Manthanam, Churning the ocean

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