||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 99 – The legend of churning the milky ocean for the nectar of immortality -2

The deities assembled under the leadership of Lord Bhrama reverentially prostrated before supreme Lord Vishnu.  Lord Bhrama praised “Oh! Supreme Lord, who has no birth, you are the source of Nirvanasukha which is the union of the soul with the supreme soul and the state of supreme bliss, you are the source of the liberation of the soul from fear, anxieties, sorrows, pain, and agony.  Oh! Lord, who symbolizes minuscule form which is impossible to perceive/Akilathamanam Anthara Dhrik, we shall prostrate before you.  Oh! Lord, the intellectuals constantly contemplate upon the splendor of the supreme Lord with the practice of strict discipline, meditation, the performance of rites, recitation of sacred chants and scriptures, Pranayama, etc. and attains the union with the supreme Lord who is eternal bliss.  Oh! Bhagavan, whoever surrendered at your lotus feet would experience your presence in them and in the outer world as well, you are the knower of all, you are well aware of our grief.” 

Lord Vishnu speaks “Oh! Deities, listen to me carefully, if you want to regain your glories, you have to make a peace agreement with the demons and churn the milky ocean.  With the collective efforts of you and the demons follow the instructions, deposit the Mount Mandhara in the milky ocean to utilize the Mountain as the churning rod, and the serpent Vasuki as its rope.  I shall caution you, there will be extremely toxic poison Kalakooda originates as a result of churning, but you need not be worried about it, that will be taken care of appropriately, further, there will be various precious things that will originate with your collective efforts, but do not let these things deviate your attention from the ultimate object, that is obtaining the nectar of immortality.” Thus, Lord Vishnu disappeared from their sight.

The deities approached Vairochana/ Mahabali who was ruling the three worlds with his extraordinary might, and they were reverentially greeted.   Lord Indra spoke, “Oh! Vairochana, we are children of one father, we are brothers, and we should not fight like enemies.  We are besieged with the curse of Maharishi Durvassa thereby lost our splendor, wealth and fame.  Lord Narayana advised us to churn the milky ocean for the nectar of immortality with our joined efforts, hence I have come to make a peace agreement with you and get liberated ourselves from the curse.  Oh! Vairochana, we can gain the nectar of immortality with our collective efforts and you may kindly take advantage of it.”  Vairochana was surprised to watch the extremely generous nature of Lord Indra who was always been haughty and ruthless. Vairochana made a fair agreement between the deities and demons.  As an initial exercise, the deities and demons have to elevate Mount Mandhara was failed miserably and few of the demons died, they could not lift an inch from its place.  Lord Vishnu mounted on celestial vehicle Garuda and the Mount Mandhara have perfectly placed on the milky ocean.  The demons and deities found repositioning the huge serpent Vasuki was deposited in the milky ocean and tied the rope around the Mount Mandhara by Lord Vishnu.  Thus, the churning of the milky ocean began, the deities who were near the mouth of the serpent started to suffocate from the heat waves produced from the mouth of Vasuki due to friction.   Once again deities, appealed to Lord Vishnu who advised them to wait patiently,  suddenly the demons refused to hold on the tail of Vasuki, eventually demons switched over to the place of the head of the serpent and tail was caught hold by the deities, thus the deities relieved from the heat waves of Vasuki.  The churning has continued, but they did not notice the Mount Mandhara started to tilt vigorously due to the extreme pressure on it.  Suddenly Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a giant tortoise and leaped into the water, and lifted Mount Mandhara on its solid upper back.  The deities and demons continued the process of churning, the tortoise felt as simple as tickling on its upper back.  Thus, the supreme Lord Vishnu who has assumed the form of a giant tortoise, with its one hand supporting the deities and the other hand to the demons, continued churning the ocean.  As the churning has progressed, it caused turmoil in the aquatic animals; suddenly Vasuki emitted toxic poison all over the ocean, which is capable to destroy the entire Universe and its people.  The deities and demons were alarmed refused to withstand the poison, Lord Mahadeva who was in deep contemplation witnessed the pathetic situation of the deities and demons.  Soon, the deities appealed to Lord Mahadeva, “ Oh! Deva, Oh! Mahadeva who is Lord of Lords, Oh! Bhoothathma who resides as a soul in living beings, Oh! Bhoothabhavana kindly protects us from the threat of toxic poison which is capable to destroy the three worlds.  Oh! Jagadheeshwara who is the Lord of the universe, you are the source of liberation from worldly bondage, Oh! Guru/preceptor, you are the protector of the distressed people; hence we shall take shelter on your lotus feet.  Oh! Vibhu, you represent trinities, you are absolute Bhramam,  Oh! Jagadeeshwara who resides as supreme soul, we shall prostrate before you, kindly protect us.”  Lord Mahadeva spoke to Devi Sati “Oh! Devi, the deities are deeply troubled by the toxic poison raised while churning the milky ocean for the nectar of immortality, I have decided to protect them from this trouble, and it is my responsibility.  I have decided to swallow that toxic poison for the welfare of living beings.”  Thus, Lord Mahadeva graciously received that toxic poison in his two palms, and poured over in his mouth, with the divine powers he put a sudden halt to the poison on the throat from moving further to the stomach.  The poison swallowed by the compassionate Lord Mahadeva became an ornament on his throat, thus Lord Mahadeva was honored with the sacred name ‘Neelkand Mahadev’.