The Ocean of Milk, on which Vishnu permanently resides atop the Sheshnag, was once churned – this activity is also known as the Samudra Manthan. The churning brought with itself a big number of gifts and presents that were not anticipated by the Devas or the Asuras. Of course, every gift brought with itself a different level of excitement that could be seen on the faces of sides. In the following few sections, we will take a deep dive into the varied aspects of the Samudra Manthan and make an attempt to understand it closely.
Objective of Samudra Manthan in the First Place
Rishi Durvasa was one of the most feared priests in all realms. He had a history of getting angry fast and cursing people if they did not live up to his expectations. The story dictates that once Durvasa received a magical fragrant garland from a Nymph. This was no ordinary garland. The flowers were blessed to never wither, give a divine fragrance and were treated as a symbol of prosperity.
Durvasa gave this garland as a gift to Indra in an attempt to please him. However, Indra did not give much importance to the gift and placed it in the neck of his elephant (his vahan named Airavata). As Indra started riding Airavata, the elephant threw the garland on the floor and crumpled it with his feet.
This sequence of events angered Durvasa tremendously. Then and there, he cursed Indra that he would lose all his splendour and prosperity in Swarga.
Note: In some versions of the story, there is a saying that the objective behind the Samudra Manthan was not only to get Lakshmi out of the Ocean of Milk but also to get Amrit which could bestow immortality on the Devas. It was the most powerful weapon that the Devas could have against the Asuras (who were the pillars of evil). As the Asuras were getting equally powerful as Devas, an element for a permanent one-upmanship was needed for the ultimate objective of the Good side winning the battles.
Why did Lakshmi Leave Swarga?
Lakshmi is seen as the Goddess of money and prosperity. When Durvasa cursed Indra, who was the lord of all the devas in Swarga, Goddess Lakshmi immediately left Swarga and hid herself in the Ocean of Milk. The curses of Rishis were so effective that the consequences came into effect immediately.
Once Goddess Lakshmi left Swarga, Amravati was shadowed with gloom. All the happiness from the realm turned down and every pillar of wealth and prosperity ceased to exist. With this sequence of events, all the Devas ran to Vishnu to seek his advice on the best way to handle the situation and reinstate Goddess Lakshmi in Swarga.
Elements used for the Samudra Manthan
When all the Devas begged Vishnu to share a solution to the curse, he asked them to make arrangements for the churning of the Ocean of the Milk to invite Lakshmi back to the realms. However, Vishnu also said that the churning could not be completed without the help of the Asuras.
As the Asuras also missed Lakshmi, they agreed to the arrangement on the condition that they will share the wealth that stems out of the Samudra Manthan. The Devas and Asuras especially had their eye on the Amrit which was expected to come out of the Samudra Manthan as well.
The main elements used for the Samudra Manthan were:
- Mount Meru – Spindle of the Churn
- Vishnu took the Avatar of Kurma to ensure the Mountain remained Afloat – He became the base of the Churn
- Sesha (Vishnu’s Serpent) – became the rope that the Devas and Asuras pulled for the Churn and wound himself around the mountain
The Devas held the tail of the Sesha while the Asuras held the head.
Treasures from the Samudra Manthan
Once the churning started, it continued for 1000s of years. During this period, a number of gifts were bestowed upon the Devas and Asuras. A brief explanation of each of these treasures is given in the following table:
| Name of the Treasure | Significance |
| Rambha | One of the Most Beautiful Apsaras |
| Vaijayanti | A Garland of Flowers that Never Withered |
| Varuni | Most Exotic Wine which Never Lets a Person Get High |
| Kama | God of Love and Pleasure |
| Dhanvantari | God of Health. It is said that he sprouted along with Goddess Lakshmi with Amrita in his hands. He also carried the cure of all diseases that humans would suffer. |
| Amrita | Juice of ImmortalityThis started the never-ending war between Devas and Asuras. Devas stole it for themselves and left Asuras vulnerable. |
| Ucchaishrava | A Seven Headed Flying HorseIt is used by Indra to drive his chariot into battles.It is also said to be used by Bali at times. |
| Panchajanya | ConchIt is one of the most famous conches that was ever used.This is the same conch that was used by Krishna to declare wars for his arrival in Mahabharata and the onset of the Dvapar Yug. |
| Saranga | A BowIt is often associated with classical musical instruments and the bow used by Vishnu to enjoy music. |
| Airavata | White ElephantThis is the same white elephant that becomes the Vahan or the official mode of transport for Indra. |
| Kamadhenu | CowThe significance of this cow is immense. It had the ability to fulfill every wish and ensure that the household of the owner was always filled with the most delicious dishes and foods. It later became the cause of contention between many individuals. |
| Akshaya Patra | A Pot of PlentyIt is a pot that is always filled with food and never lets the owner go hungry or the guests. |
| Kalpavriksha-Parijata | A Divine TreeThe tree had the ability to fulfill wishes and would always be lushy and green. |
| Chintamani Kaustubha | A GemIt was a gem that gave life to all dreams or wishes that a person had. The person in possession of the Gem had all the treasures of the world. |
| Lakshmi | Goddess of Money and ProsperityFinally towards the end of the Churn, Lakshmi emerges from the Ocean of Milk and restores prosperity in all realms |
| Halahala | The PoisonThis is the same poison that was drunk by Shiva to save the world from dying. It is also called the pollution that came in the form of a gas and started spreading throughout the Ocean. It also signified the advance of Alakshmi who always comes along with Lakshmi. |
Learnings from the Churning of the Ocean of Milk
As an individual, I learnt a big number of hidden meanings from the entire process of the churning of the Ocean of Milk. I have made a small list of my learnings, if any of these resonate with you, feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think:
- Without the assistance of Vishnu or God, nothing can happen in your life.
- Lakshmi or money and prosperity, demands sacrifice and a big amount of hard work. It does not just come to your doorstep due to luck.
- Alakshmi is Lakshmi’s sister that spreads bad omens and feeding her should come before serving sweets to Lakshmi herself. Upon research I found out that the hanging of Green Chillies and Lemon outside the main door of your homes can keep Alakshmi at bay (as this is one of her favourite foods).
- You cannot achieve anything in life without help. A person would always need friends and family members to help them through the worst times to reach the peak in their lives.
- Patience is the key to success. Perseverance and self-belief can help you go a long way!
- Arrogance and disrespect to anyone can cause misfortune. It is essential for an individual to remain humble and down-to-earth even if he/she becomes the God of Heavens. Stay close to your roots and remind yourself about hardships of the journey you had to take to make it where you are today.
- It is ok to seek help from the experts. They will always extend a hand of assistance to the best of their ability.
