2nd Day Vaishnava Navaratri
tatrāpi devasambhūtyāṁ vairājasyābhavat sutaḥ
ajito nāma bhagavān aṁśena jagataḥ patiḥ
payodhiṁ yena nirmathya surāṇāṁ sādhitā sudhā
bhramamāṇo ’mbhasi dhṛtaḥ kūrma-rūpeṇa mandaraḥ
In the sixth manvantara, a manifested form of Lord Visnu named Ajita appeared as the son of Vairaja from the womb of Devasambhuti. Lord Ajita caused the churning of the Ocean of Milk and produced nectar for the devas. In the form of a tortoise, He held the great mountain known as Mandara on His back in the ocean.
The following is a brief account of Sukadeva Goswami's description, which was spoken to satisfy Pariksit Maharaja's desire to hear these pastimes in detail.
Once, the great sage Durvasa came across Indra, the king of the devas, riding on his elephant. Durvasa Muni presented Indra with his flower garland, but Indra, who was proud of his opulence, did not pay attention to the garland and threw it on the head of his elephant named Airavata. The garland fell from the elephant and was crushed under its foot. Seeing this insult of the garland he had given, Durvasa Muni became enraged and cursed Indra by swearing, "Be bereft of all prosperity!" Thus, Indra and the other devas lost all their strength and prosperity. After some time, the devas were defeated in a war with the demons and many of them lost their lives. Most of the devas were unable to regain their lives even though the Vedic sages were invested with mystic powers and the knowledge of mantras and techniques to bring the dead back to life under certain conditions. Therefore, the devas held a meeting, but as they were unable to find any means of retaliation, they approached Brahma at Sumeru Mountain and informed him about their miserable state. Upon seeing the weak state of the devas and the powerful state of the demons, Brahma meditated on the Supreme Lord with full concentration. Thereafter, he joyfully spoke to the devas: "Only by exclusive devotion to the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Sri Hari can you be saved from this dangerous situation." Along with other devas, Brahma then went to Svetadvipa, which is situated in the Ocean of Milk, and offered many Vedic prayers to the Supreme Lord Visnu. Satisfied by the prayers of the devas, Ksirodakshaya Visnu appeared, but due to His dazzling effulgence, none of the devas other than Brahma were able to see Him. Then, Lord Brahma with Lord Mahesvara again offered prayers. Satisfied by the prayers of Brahma and the other devas, Lord Ajita suggested that the devas should skillfully make a truce with the demons-the disciples of Sukracarya. The Lord told them to use Mandara Mountain as a churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as a rope for the production of the nectar of immortality by churning the Ocean of Milk together with the demons. Lord Ajita also told the devas that upon churning the ocean they should not be afraid of generating the poison known as kalakuta. He also told them that they should not be greedy for whatever different attractive products would be obtained from the churning, and if someone else were to take them, they should neither object nor show anger.
The Lord then disappeared after giving these instructions. The devas went to make a truce with the demon-king, Bali Maharaja. Thereafter, the demons and the devas set out to get Mandara Mountain. With great endeavor they lifted the mountain, but since it was extremely heavy, it toppled over while they were carrying it. Many of the devas and demons were crushed under the mountain and died. Seeing their distressed condition and feeling compassion for them, Lord Ajita, riding on His carrier Garuda, made His most auspicious appearance and revived them by bestowing his nectarean glance. Thereafter, the Lord picked up Mandara Mountain effortlessly in His hand and mounted Garuda. Instructed by the Lord, Garuda arrived at the Ocean of Milk along with the devas and demons and left after placing Mandara Mountain near the ocean.
The decision to churn the ocean was made on the condition that whatever nectar would be produced in the churning would be shared by both the devas and the demons. First of all, the serpent Vasuki was wrapped around Mandara Mountain as a rope. Due to the expertise of Lord Hari, the intoxicated demons took hold of the hooded end of Vasuki and the devas grasped the tail end. With great endeavor, the task of churning began, but after some time the supportless mountain sank into the ocean. All the efforts of the devas and demons had gone in vain. The Lord saw the sad and frustrated condition of all. On seeing such an obstruction to the churning process, the supremely powerful Lord Ajita assumed the wonderful form of a tortoise (Kurma) and lifted up Mandara Mountain after entering the ocean. Upon seeing Mandara Mountain being raised up, the devas and demons began the churning again.
Supreme Lord Sri Hari held the great mountain on His back, which was like a subcontinent one hundred thousand yojanas wide. While holding up the great mountain that was being rotated by the devas and demons, the supremely powerful Lord Kurma felt a pleasurable itching sensation on His back. Thereafter, to increase the enthusiasm of the devas and asuras, the Lord Himself entered into them as their power, and into the great serpent Vasuki as sleep. The Lord also manifested Himself on the peak of the mountain, spreading thousands of hands like a king of the mountain, holding the mountain with only one hand. As this was taking place, Brahma, Rudra, Indra and the other devas praised Him and flowers showered down from the heavens.
Once, the great sage Durvasa came across Indra, the king of the devas, riding on his elephant. Durvasa Muni presented Indra with his flower garland, but Indra, who was proud of his opulence, did not pay attention to the garland and threw it on the head of his elephant named Airavata. The garland fell from the elephant and was crushed under its foot. Seeing this insult of the garland he had given, Durvasa Muni became enraged and cursed Indra by swearing, "Be bereft of all prosperity!" Thus, Indra and the other devas lost all their strength and prosperity. After some time, the devas were defeated in a war with the demons and many of them lost their lives. Most of the devas were unable to regain their lives even though the Vedic sages were invested with mystic powers and the knowledge of mantras and techniques to bring the dead back to life under certain conditions. Therefore, the devas held a meeting, but as they were unable to find any means of retaliation, they approached Brahma at Sumeru Mountain and informed him about their miserable state. Upon seeing the weak state of the devas and the powerful state of the demons, Brahma meditated on the Supreme Lord with full concentration. Thereafter, he joyfully spoke to the devas: "Only by exclusive devotion to the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Sri Hari can you be saved from this dangerous situation." Along with other devas, Brahma then went to Svetadvipa, which is situated in the Ocean of Milk, and offered many Vedic prayers to the Supreme Lord Visnu. Satisfied by the prayers of the devas, Ksirodakshaya Visnu appeared, but due to His dazzling effulgence, none of the devas other than Brahma were able to see Him. Then, Lord Brahma with Lord Mahesvara again offered prayers. Satisfied by the prayers of Brahma and the other devas, Lord Ajita suggested that the devas should skillfully make a truce with the demons-the disciples of Sukracarya. The Lord told them to use Mandara Mountain as a churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as a rope for the production of the nectar of immortality by churning the Ocean of Milk together with the demons. Lord Ajita also told the devas that upon churning the ocean they should not be afraid of generating the poison known as kalakuta. He also told them that they should not be greedy for whatever different attractive products would be obtained from the churning, and if someone else were to take them, they should neither object nor show anger.
The Lord then disappeared after giving these instructions. The devas went to make a truce with the demon-king, Bali Maharaja. Thereafter, the demons and the devas set out to get Mandara Mountain. With great endeavor they lifted the mountain, but since it was extremely heavy, it toppled over while they were carrying it. Many of the devas and demons were crushed under the mountain and died. Seeing their distressed condition and feeling compassion for them, Lord Ajita, riding on His carrier Garuda, made His most auspicious appearance and revived them by bestowing his nectarean glance. Thereafter, the Lord picked up Mandara Mountain effortlessly in His hand and mounted Garuda. Instructed by the Lord, Garuda arrived at the Ocean of Milk along with the devas and demons and left after placing Mandara Mountain near the ocean.
The decision to churn the ocean was made on the condition that whatever nectar would be produced in the churning would be shared by both the devas and the demons. First of all, the serpent Vasuki was wrapped around Mandara Mountain as a rope. Due to the expertise of Lord Hari, the intoxicated demons took hold of the hooded end of Vasuki and the devas grasped the tail end. With great endeavor, the task of churning began, but after some time the supportless mountain sank into the ocean. All the efforts of the devas and demons had gone in vain. The Lord saw the sad and frustrated condition of all. On seeing such an obstruction to the churning process, the supremely powerful Lord Ajita assumed the wonderful form of a tortoise (Kurma) and lifted up Mandara Mountain after entering the ocean. Upon seeing Mandara Mountain being raised up, the devas and demons began the churning again.
Supreme Lord Sri Hari held the great mountain on His back, which was like a subcontinent one hundred thousand yojanas wide. While holding up the great mountain that was being rotated by the devas and demons, the supremely powerful Lord Kurma felt a pleasurable itching sensation on His back. Thereafter, to increase the enthusiasm of the devas and asuras, the Lord Himself entered into them as their power, and into the great serpent Vasuki as sleep. The Lord also manifested Himself on the peak of the mountain, spreading thousands of hands like a king of the mountain, holding the mountain with only one hand. As this was taking place, Brahma, Rudra, Indra and the other devas praised Him and flowers showered down from the heavens.
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