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In the aftermath of a curse by Sage Durvasa, Devas and and their

king, INDRA, had become inglorious and powerless. It was as though

they had been abandoned by Gods. They remained engulfed in darkness.

 

Their eternal foes, ASURAS, were quick to seize the opportunity and

conquer the emaciated Devas. Indra was dethroned and driven out along

with his subjects. Feeling helpless and utterly humiliated, they went

to BRAHMA, the Creator, and sought his help, explaining their

predicament. Brahma took them to the abode of VISHNU, since it is the

latter who preserves the order of the universe. Indra and Devas

surrendered to VISHNU and prayed for their redemption.

 

Lord VISHNU told them that the only way out for them was to secure

the NECTAR of IMMORTALITY: and for that, they would have to strive

immensely and (a) cast all kinds of plants, herbs, grassed and

creepers into the Ocean of Milk, and (b) churn the ocean using Mount

MANDARA as a churn-staff and VASUKI, the king of the serpents, as the

rope for turning it. But how to shift the Mount, was the big

question. VISHNU suggested that they make peace with their cousins

and enemies and enlist their cooperation and help, and achieve their

purpose. At the same time HE cautioned them not to covet any of the

things that come out of the ocean and not to get angry even if those

things were forcibly taken posession of by the ASURAS. HE assured

them, however, that he would see to it that the ASURAS did not enjoy

any portion of the NECTAR, no matter how much they toiled.

 

While BRAHMA returned to his own abode, INDRA and the Devas made

their journey to the court of Bali, king of the ASURAS. On seeing

INDRA and the Devas approaching them, King Bali's followers were

furious and about to attack and capture them. However, Bali

counselled patience suggesting that they might after all be coming

with a proposal which might benefit the Asuras as well. Accordingly,

King Bali received Indra and the Devas with due honours. INDRA told

the King why they had come to him and requested him to extend his

help for the venture from which all of them could benefit.

 

Bali and his Chiefs agreed to the proposal. Asuras and Devas made

peace between themselves. Indra and Bali rallied their forces and

began the task of lifting Mount Mandara. Uprooting the mount, they

set out carrying it to the seashore. Even before they had carried it

halfway, the forces found themselves unable to carry it any longer;

and soon the mount came crashing on them. Large numbers of Devas and

Asuras lay dead under it. Indra was heartbroken. While he was still

thinking of appealing to Lord Vishnu, God appeared on the spot on his

Vahana - Garuda - and by His mere glance revived the dead; and

placing Mount Mandara on Garuda's back, He flew to the seashore,

where the Devas and Asuras too followed. After the mount was safely

brought down, Lord Vishnu asked Garuda to withdraw from the scene,

lest VASUKI should keep himself away for fear of his natural enemy (

Garuda ). When he saw that Garuda was no longer there, VASUKI,

arrived on the scene obeying the summons of VISHNU. The Lord assured

the Serpent King that he too would get a share of the Nectar and that

the rugged surface of the mount would not hurt him. Vasuki, in tune

with his role, allowed himself to be wound around MANDARA as the

churning rope.

 

Devas and Asuras were very joyous and began churning the ocean with

Mandara and Vasuki in place. But their joy was shortlived. Mount

Mandara had no support and so sank into the ocean within a

shortwhile. The mightiest of Devas and Asuras could not hold it.

 

There was only one who could do it and it was Lord Vishnu. Assuming

the form of a huge Tortoise(KURMA), the Lord plunged into the ocean

and came up with the mountain on his back. The Lord had come to their

rescue again. The Devas and Asuras lost no time to get back to their

job of churning. However much they churned nothing came out of their

efforts. They became weary and depressed. Lord intervened once more

and did the churning too.

 

With the churning in full steam, the concentrate of the impurities of

the ocean threw up the deadly poison, HALAHALA. The poisonous fumes

choked the Devas and Asuras. Not knowing what to do, Devas ran to

Lord SHIVA collected it in his palm and swallowed it. As soon as the

poison was removed, the Devas and Asuras resumed churning. As they

churned and churned many precious things came to the surface but not

the Nectar.

 

Suddenly a being emerged with a jar in his arms. It was Dhanwantari

with the jar of the nectar of IMMORTALLITY. The Asuras were quick to

surmise that it was Nectar in the jar. They rushed towards

Dhanwantari and snatched the jar from him and started quarrelling for

getting the Nectar first.

 

Devas watched the Asuras each one of whom was trying to grab the

nectar for himself before everyone else. They were annoyed but kept

their cool remembering the Lord's warning that they should not covet

any precious thing coming out of the ocean or become angry over

anything. Lord Vishnu appeared before them and approved their conduct

and told them that He will charm the Asuras with the powers and

secure the nectar from them.

 

The Asuras already stood divided over partaking the Nectar. They now

noticed a woman, who was the most beautiful that they had ever seen,

approaching them. They were all struck by the dazzling beauty of the

woman and they turned to enjoying the unrivalled beauty of the form,

the limbs, the features and what not, of this enchanting figure. They

didn't however know that it was none other than Lord Vishnu who had

descended before them in that bewitching form, in the form of MOHINI

and He had a purpose in assuming the form.

 

In a state of infatuation, the Asuras gifted the Jar of Nectar to

this beautiful woman and prayed to her to distribute it among them

and bring peace and amity among themselves. Mohini condescended to do

it but on condition that they would not question her actions,

whatever they might be. The Asuras, not knowing who she was and

totally under the spell of her charm, readily agreed to her

condition. "Go bathe and assemble yourselves in one row with your

cousins, the Devas in another row." ordered Mohini. When they were

all assembled in two separate rows, Mohini began serving the Nectar

to the Devas first. The Asuras were uneasy but chose to keep quiet as

they had promised not to question her actions. By the time the last

of the Devas in their row had been served, Mohini had made sure that

there was no Nectar left to be served to the Asuras. Nectar of

immortality would only cause untold harm and destruction, if granted

to aggressive and unscrupulous beings like the Asuras.

 

Then to the amazement of Asuras, Lord Vishnu assumed his own form and

the Asuras realised that it was Vishnu who had appeared before them

as Mohini. They demanded of Vishnu their share of Nectar; but they

got only a smile from him in return. Mounting GARUDA, Lord Vishnu

flew away from them.

 

The Asuras felt cheated and immediately started attacking the Devas.

With God on their side and with the Nectar inside, the Devas had

regained their original splendour and strength and they were able to

conquer the Asuras, who had to flee before the might of Devas. On the

advice of Lord BRAHMA, conveyed through Sage Narada, INDRA called off

the hostilities and returned to his realms with the Devas.

 

The Lord thus did revive and restore the lost glory of those who were

righteous and who sought refuge in him; and subdue those who were

aggressive an unrighteous and who didn't repose faith in him.

 

Lord VISHNU in this manner saved his True Devotees from dissolution

so as to hand down divine knowledge and saved the VEDAS from

destruction so as ensure CREATION after the DISSOLUTION