As a result of this curse, Indra lost his throne. The world was bereft of beauty and prosperity, and Bali the demon became King of Heaven! All the Devtas went to Brahmaji and Shankarji. Then they all got together and sang hymns in praise (stuti) of the Lord.
The Lord manifested in His four-armed form. Brahma and Shankar could see the Lord, but the eyes of the Devtas were too dazzled to see Him. They just eulogized Him and placed their problem.
The Lord said, "Brahmaji, Shankarji and Devtas it is not possible that I favor you upon every occasion. It is not to anybody's credit if they need outside help to deal with their enemy. At present, Bali is well established in Dharma. Even Ishwara cannot put aside a person who treads the path of righteousness. So it is only proper that you go to Bali, unarmed, and seek to have a Treaty with him - 'sandhirvidheeyataam'. If our enemy is very strong, it is wise to have a Treaty. Agree with whatever the Asuras say, or the time being. Peaceful negotiation can achieve everything. But getting angry achieves nothing." The Lord then taught them all the methods of making a treaty.
When the Asuras saw the Devtas approach unarmed, their first impulse was to imprison them. Bali forbade them, saying it would tarnish his reputation, and they were quiet.
The Devtas reached Bali and discussed the treaty with him. It was decided that the ksheer sagar (cosmic ocean), should be jointly churned, and the nectar (amrit), which would emerge, be shared by all. Everyone would become immortal after drinking it.
They decided to use the Mandarachala mountain as the mathani, and the serpent Vasuki, as the neti for churning it. However, the Devtas and the Daityas found that their combined strength was insufficient to shift the mountain. They did manage to raise it once. But it feel again, causing injury to the limbs of the Devtas and Daityas.
The ksheer sagar is the sea of sattvaguna. It is necessary that the Daivi as well as the Asuri tendencies are turned towards the Truth, before the manthan can be undertaken. Only then can the highest fruit the elixir be procured.
The Devtas and Daityas remembered the Lord, when all their efforts to shift the mountain ailed. He came, seated on the Garuda, and placed the Mandarachala on the Garuda's wings,
See what Manuji Maharaj says about Garudaji. He says tha tall creations and conditions are caused by the words of the Vedas. The words of the Vedas are very powerful, and Garudaji is their personification. The Lord cannot be reached by direct vision. Nor can He be reached by hypothesis. He is in no way affected by logic or intangibility. Comparison fails as far as the Lord is concerned, and traditional theories cannot reach Him either. The Lord is disclosed only through words. It is 'the word' which brings enlightenment.
The Lord placed the Mandarachala on the wings of the word, manifested as Garuda, and came to the milky ocean. He pushed the mountain into the sea, but it would keep sinking and rising. So the Lord displayed His supportive power by taking on the form of a giant tortoise, and supporting the Mandarachala on His back. This was the Kachap Avatar. In another form, he held the mountain firmly upon the back of the tortoise. Then they wrapped Vasuki round the mountain, because Vasuki had agreed to this, on condition of getting his share of the amrit.
The Devtas went towards Vasuki's head, and the Daityas went towards the tail, to start the churning. Then, the Daityas felt that it was insulting to hold the tail, and said, "we are the elder brothers. We will not hold the tails." The Devtas were unwilling to change. The Lord interceded, telling both sides not to permit pettiness to divert them from the main purpose. "You should understand the importance of the goal, and stop quibbling," he said.
The Lord ordered the Devtas to come towards the tail and allow the Daityas to hold the head. The Devtas obeyed. When the manthan started, they understood why the Lord had told them to move. Fumes of poison emerged from Vasuki's mouth, causing great discomfort to the Daityas. The Devtas, however, were refreshed by showers caused by the condensation of Vasuki's gusts of hot breath.
Now, listen attentively the Lord is seated, in the form of a tortoise, supporting the Mandarachala on His back. He is standing, in another form, on top, holding the mountain down firmly. He is in all the Devtas and Daityas, in the form of their strength. Despite this, when the churning was inadequate, he took on yet another form. He caught hold of Vasuki's tail with one hand, and head with the other hand. We can only imagine how vast the Lord is. Actually, or one who's naval holds the sky, noting can be considered impossible. The description of His ornament is also given to indicate that He is all pervading. The Brahmalok is in His crown, and the earth is in His waist, and the nether lands are in His feet. Thus, the Lord's form is endless.
Some obstacles were bound to arise, when the manthan started. Obstacles come up whenever anyone undertakes any good work - 'shre yaansi bahuvighnaani'. This happens to show us that success comes to those who persevere. When someone lacks the courage to continue in the ace of difficulties, success begins to think, "What is the use of going to someone who gives up so easily?" People with worthy qualities do not give up their goal so easily!
So. What was the obstacle, which arose when the churning began? It was deadly venom. It is impossible to cure certain diseases without the use of venom. 'Vishasya vishamaushadham' - poison is used as an oshadhi for a number of diseases, what is an oshadhi?: 'Oshati doshaan dhatte gunaan iti oshadhih' - that, which removes faults in our lives, does three things firstly, it removes the cause of the disease; secondly, it provides nourishment; and thirdly, it gives us what we lack. Venom is, therefore, a very valuable item.
The Devtas and Daityas were frightened when the poison emerged. They did not know what would happen. They feared that the poison would burn the world and destroy it.
The Lord Vishnu was busy with the manthan, but the Lord Shankar was seated in meditation. He was unconcerned with the Devtas and the Daityas. Lord Vishnu suggested that Shankarji be involved in this activity. The Devtas and Daityas went to Shankarji and prayed, "You are the Lord of Pralay, but it is not yet the time for dissolution. This deadly poison has emerged before its time. Please do not allow the world to be destroyed now. Please save us all from this fearsome venom"
Shankarji agreed to help them. He spoke to his wife, Gauriji, saying, "Devi, our people are in peril. It is our duty to remove the cause of their fear.
Gauriji complimented Shankarji for his kindness, and said, "Those who have the nature of a Sadhu, Mahtma or Satpurush, invariably wish to remove the suffering of others, by taking it upon themselves. It is the highest worship of the Amalatma Purush to save others from suffering by taking it upon one's self.
Encouraged by Gauriji's approval, Shankarji drank the deadly poison. The Mahatmas say that Shankarji gathered up all the venom, but did not allow it to linger on his tongue. Because that is where the Lord's name is kept. If the name of the Lord and poison were kept together, people would lose faith in the name. Neither did Shankarji let the poison reach his heart, because the form of the Lord is seated in his heart. So, Shankarji place the venom in his throat, deciding to bring it up again, and use it or dissolution, when the time was right. "Then, I need not use my powers of destruction," he thought.
Shankarji's neck turned blue with the poison, and this became a decoration 'taccha shambhorvibhooshanam'. If one gets a scar or a stain in the course of helping others, even that mark becomes a decoration.
The second item to emerge from the ocean was the gomata, which the Brahmins received. The Daityas asked for Uchchaishrava, the horse which emerged next, and it was given to them. The Devtas were given Airavat, the elephant which emerged after Uchchaishrava.
While all this was happening, the Lord told Kaustubh, "You have always clung to me. Now, go for a sojourn." It entered the ocean, and emerged as Padmarag - 'padmaraago mahodadhe'h' and attached itself to the Lord again.
The Kaustubh or Padmarag has no hole pierced in it. Nor does it need to be strung. How can anything, which clings to the Lord's chest, be less than perfect, and whole? The effect of being close to the Lord is to be totally free from bondage.
After this, the Kalpataru emerged, and was given to the Devtas. The Apsaras who came next, were also received by the Devtas. Then Laxmi emerged. It is through Her that the Lord's Grace is given. So, as soon as she emerged, all the Devtas and Daityas were eager to see Her. Laxmi pacified them all.
It is said, that at the time of the samudra manthan, Laxmiji told the Lord, "We have always been together, since time immemorial. I am your wife, Laxmi, and Your are my husband, Narayana. Our names are taken jointly, as Laxminarayana. However, my friends wish to know when we celebrate our wedding anniversary. Neither You, nor I, can give them as answer."
The Lord Narayana replied, "Devi, we have an excellent opportunity today, Make the ocean your father, and emerge as his daughter, and we will get married today. People will be able to see the happy occasion of our wedding."
Laxmiji agreed, and emerged from the ocean. She started a Leela of having a swayamvara. Everybody was made to sit in a row. Laxmiji said that she would marry the one who did not desire her. "People who want me will cease to value me, once they have me," she said. "He who desires me only to fulfill his wishes, will ultimately destroy me, only the man, who wants me without worldly desire, will continue to cherish me."
Laxmiji started finding fault with the candidate. "This one has a lot of knowledge, but is very greedy." "This one does not keep good company." "This one is too old." "This one has a terrible temper," and so on. She kept rejecting them all, one by one. Then she glanced at the sea, and saw someone sleeping there. Enquiries revealed that it was the blue hued Narayana, who reposes in the ocean of sattvaguna, covered by a golden garment, as he sleeps upon the white, milky ocean. "He did not attend the swayamvara because He has no desire to get married." She was told. "He is resting."
Laxmiji declared that this was the one she would wed. She left everybody, and went to Him with the Varmala. The Lord opened His eyes. Met hers. They had conspired for this, and Laxmiji garlanded the Lord, and He placed her on His chest. The others could only watch helplessly.
The one who emerged next was Dhanvantari. He is a gem in the form of a vaidya. The Ayurveda in his mouth is also a gem, and so is the Amrit Kalash in his hand. As soon as Dhanvantari emerged, holding the Amrit Kalash, the Daityas snatched it away. Since there is not unity among Daityas, they began to quarrel among themselves.
The Devtas were disheartened to see this. The Lord took on the form of Mohini, which enchanted both the Devtas and the Daityas. The Daityas appealed to her, "Deviji, we brothers are quarreling among ourselves for the elixir. Please intercede and settle the dispute. We agree to abide by whatever you decide."
Monihi said, "You do not know my background, my caste, my parentage, or my character. Nobody trusts an unknown harlot. Why do you trust me?"
The Daityas replied, "Then you will have to follow whatever I say. Nothing is to be done without my permission.
They Daityas accepted her condition. Mohini told them to bathe, and do the Sandhya Vandan, chant the Gayatri mantra, and sit on a grass mat generally used or rituals of worship.
Even the Daityas who had not received the yagyopaveeta behaved as though they were initiated. They bathed, did the rituals as directed by Mohini, and sat in a row. The Devtas sat in a row opposite the Daityas.
Mohini reconfirmed their willingness to accept her verdict. Everybody confirmed in one voice. Mohini started on the side of the Devtas. She would smile enchantingly at the Daityas, while giving Amrit to the Devtas, indicating that she would soon be with them.
A Daitya named Rahu disguised himself, and sat down between Surya (the sun) and Chandra (the moon), but was soon caught out. The Lord Still in the form of Mohini cut of his head with His Chakra (discus). Rahu's body was divided into two. One remained Rahu, and the other became Ketu.
The Daityas realized that Mohini had been treacherous. They picked up their weapons and rushed to kill her. Mohini shed her wig and garments, and wiped of her makeup. The Narayana (who had become Mohini) vanished from view.
Shri Shukadevji Maharaj said, "Parikshit, even though the Daityas and the Devtas had put in an equal effort, it was the Devtas who received the Amrit, be cause they were guided by the Lord, and had His Grace and support. The Daityas who are always opposed to the Lord were deprived of it. The fact is that the side which has the Lord is the side of Truth, and the side away from the Lord is the side of nescience. It is Bhakti which turns us towards the Lord who is Satswaroop the existence, Chitswaroop the consciousness, and Anandswaroop bliss incarnate. When we turn towards the Lord, it benefits us in this world as well as in the next.
As fierce battle raged between the Devtas and Daityas, as soon as the Lord vanished. Warriors from both sides used different animals and birds as their mounts some even used flies and mosquitoes during the battle. This Devasura sangram, as this battle is called, is remembered even today. All the wars which have taken place on earth have a shadow of the war between godly and demonic forces.
The war was so terrible that even the Devtas, who had drunk Amrit, began to die. The Shrimad Bhagwat describes this with absolute clarity. The question arose, as to why the Devtas died; they should have becomes immortal after drinking the Amrit. The answer is that the efficacy of Amrit was blocked by the dishonesty of the Devtas. The Amrit became impotent because the Daityas did not receive their fair share. So, the Amrit's power of immortality did not work for the Devtas.
The frightened Devtas began to worship the Lord. He appeared before them. The Lord had not given Amrit to the Daityas because that would have been like nurturing a snake. Even milk given to a snake turns into poison. The Amrit started to take effect as soon as the Lord appeared on the side of the Devtas.
The Lord killed many Asuras with His Chakra. Indra, encouraged by the Lord, lifted up his Vajra and killed many demons. A celestial voice told Indra how to kill the Asuras who were very powerful. Indra told Bali, "Come before me and show how much valor you have."
Bali replied, "Indra, victory and defeat are worldly norms they keep coming in life. Why talk of them while we face each other in battle? You display your valor, and I will display mine.
In the terrible battle, which ensued, Indra shot down Bali's air, plane with his vajra. Bali fell, unconscious, to the ground. The Daityas picked up his body and took it to Shukracharya. The Devtas began to kill the remaining Daityas, who were completely routed.
Just then Naradji sent by Brahmaji arrived at the scene of the battle. He said, "Devtas, the Daityas and you have both always existed in the world. This battle has been won by you. It is not proper that you destroy the seed of the Daityas completely. Your virtues will be known only if Daityas exist, because people will be able to compare, are realize you superiority."
Naradji is Devarshi. He is the purohit of the Devtas, so the Devtas took his advice, and stopped killing the Daityas. They regained the rule of Heaven, and were happy once again.
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