The Churning of the Ocean and Mohini

The devas had lost to the asuras in battle and their power had faded. With Brahma they went to Lord Vishnu for shelter. The Lord said: make peace with the asuras for now and together churn the Ocean of Milk. Amrit will come out of it, and drinking it you will grow strong again.

Mount Mandara became the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki the rope. As the churning began, the heavy mountain started to sink into the ocean. Then the Lord took the form of a giant tortoise, Kurma, and lifted the mountain on His back. The churning went on.

First came a terrible poison called Halahal, and the whole world began to burn. Everyone went to Lord Shiv. Full of compassion, and with Mother Parvati's consent, Shiv drank the poison and held it in his throat. His throat turned blue, and he came to be called Neelkanth.

Then came Kamadhenu the wish-giving cow, the horse Uchchaihshravas, the elephant Airavat, the Kaustubh jewel, the Parijat tree and the apsaras. Then Lakshmi appeared and placed her garland on Lord Vishnu. At last Lord Dhanvantari rose with the pot of amrit. The asuras snatched it away.

Then the Lord took the form of Mohini, a woman of great beauty. Charmed, the asuras said: you share out the amrit. Mohini gave the amrit to the devas. An asura named Rahu disguised himself and sat among the devas, but the Sun and Moon recognised him, and the Lord cut off his head with His chakra. The labour was shared by all, but the amrit went to the side of dharma.