SAMUDRA MANTHAN

SAMUDRA  MANTHAN

Indra, king of Gods riding on elephant

Durvasa muni offered him a garland

Indra put it on elephant’s trunk

Irritated by smell elephant threw it at once.

Durvasa muni much offended

On Indra, muni angrily cursed

Lose strength, influence and auspiciousness

Devas defeated by asuras at once.

Devas distressed appealed to Lord Vishnu

Vishnu suggested them, with asuras a truce

Draw them to Ksheera sagara mathan

Or    churning   of the ocean.

Devas and asuras churn the ocean

Bali Maharaja, led asuras to begin 

Vishnu with Mandara   mountain  on Garudas back

And snake Vasuki as churning rope

Asuras insisting on front of Vasuki

Vishnu advising devas to hold tail simply

Chuning hard for release of nectar

Blazing fire from mouth of Vasuki appear

Devas and asuras continue churning

Mandara   without   support sinking.

Vishnu took form of tortoise or kurma

Continued supporting Mandara

Many great objects began to surface

Deavas and asuras good understanding to share

During churning out came halahala

Deadly poison frightening asuras and devas

On advice of Vishnu, devas appeal to Shiva

Shiva drank poison, Parvati pressing neck of Shiva.

Prevented poison going down to stomach

Shiva’s neck appearing blue with poison much

Lord Shiva hence called Neelakanta

Came to   rescue  of  deavas.

Fourteen different things surface

Devas and asuras decide on equal share

Lakshmi goddess of wealth and fortune

Kaustaba, costliest jewel of world known

Parijata, the divine white flower

Varuni, goddess of intoxicant beverages ever

Dhanvantri, the doctor

Chandra, the moon appears

Kamadhenu, wish granting cow

Kalpatharu, wish granting tree or tharu

Airavati, white elephant of Indra

Apsara, nymphs like Rambha, Menaka

Uccharavas,  the  seven  headed  horse

Sharanya, bow of lord Vishnu

Shanka, Vishnu’s conch

Amrita, nectar  of  immortality.

Ocean produced balacendra

The cool crescent moon

Offered to Lord Shiva,to wear on His head

Dhanvantri with nectar filled pot appeared.

Demons lost patience and snatched

From Dhanvantri the kumbha, fight ensued

Among demons who should drink first

Garuda snatched the pot and fled fast

Garuda in his   flight   round earth

Spilled out   from pot   four   drops on to   earth.

Drops fell at Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik

Today four sacred places of Hindu worship

Places of power and spirituality

Kumbha  mela celebrated once in twelve years merrily.

Asuras fought and snatched back from Garuda

Overwhelmed with happiness the asuras

Their happiness was short lived

Appeared before them  as apsara damsel.

Vishnu as Mohini, a damsel appeared

Mohini begins to distribute

Her ways none should dispute

She would be just in distribute

Asuras and devas agree to her just attribute.

Mohini made demons and asuras to sit

In separate lines in order she insist

Delivered   devas   amrith   first

Spoke to demons   praiseworthy words best.

Demons waiting for their turn next

Rahu, an intelligent one among demons

Suspected foul play in Mohini’s actions

Transformed into a deva like figure

Between Surya and Chandra appears

Chandra dev signaled to Mohini

Skip Rahu sitting next to me

But it was too late for Mohini to act

Rahu had his share and gulped into throat

Vishnu appeared, served remaining to Chandra

Threw the pot on to earth after serving last of devas

Started chasing Rahu, the demon

Severed Rahu’s   head   with  Vishnu chakra at once.

Rahu’s head tasting amrith became immortal

Vishnu decides to break into pieces multiple

Chandra pleads not to do so

Every piece would incarnate as daitya more

Vishnu directs Rahu to change his life style

Begin absorbing devas life style

Your head and body split be with Surya and Chandra

Worshipped as Rahu and Ketu in Navagraha

Suryaya Chandraya Mangalaya Budhaya

Guru Sukra Sanibyascha Rahave Ketave namaha

K.S.V.SESHADRI