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Matsya
avatara
Kurma
Varaha
Narasimha
Vamana
Parasurama
Sri Rama
Sri
Krishna
Buddha
Kalki
Kurma Avatar
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.
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