CHURNING OF THE MILKY OCEAN

in Hindu mythology, one of the central events in the ever-continuing struggle between the devas (gods) and the asuras (demons, or titans). The gods, who had become weakened as a result of a curse by the irascible sage, Durvasas, invited the asuras to help them recover the elixir of immortality, the amrta, from the depths of the cosmic ocean. Mt. Mandara, a spur of the world axis, Mt. Meru, was torn out to use as a churning stick and was steadied at the bottom of the ocean by Vishnu in his aspect as the tortoise Kurma. The asuras held the head of the naga (serpent) Vasuki, who was procured for a churning rope, and the gods held his tail. When Vasuki's head hit the rocks and he vomited forth poison that threatened to fall into the ocean and contaminate the amrta, the god Siva took it and held it in his throat, a feat that turned his throat blue. In the churning of the ocean many wonderful treasures that became the prototypes for their earthly and heavenly counterparts were brought up from the depths: (1) Candra, the moon; (2) parijata, a beautiful and fragrant tree now planted in Indra's heaven; (3) the four-tusked elephant Airavata, Indra's mount; (4) Kamadhenu, the cow of plenty; (5) Madira, the goddess of wine, who became Varuni, the wife of Varuna; (6) Kalpavrksa, the wish-fulfilling tree; (7) the apsaras (nymph) Rambha; (8) the celestial horse Uccaihsravas; (9) the goddess Laksmi, who became the wife of Vishnu; (10) Pacajanya, Vishnu's conch; (11) Gada, Vishnu's mace, and Dhanus, his magic bow; (12) Ratna (various gems); (13-14) Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who rose up out of the waters carrying in his hands the supreme treasure, the amrta. When the amrta appeared, the gods and the asuras fought over its possession, though they had originally agreed to share it equally. After many adventures, it was finally consumed by the gods, who were thus restored in strength.