PARAKUNNATH SREE VETTAKKORUMAKAN PAYYAN KSHETHRAM (TEMPLE), AROLI, KANNUR, KERALA: During the Samunder Manthan, churning of the ocean first gave rise to the Halahala, the deadly poison, representing the oceans impurities.

Friday 13 January 2017

During the Samunder Manthan, churning of the ocean first gave rise to the Halahala, the deadly poison, representing the oceans impurities.

During the Samunder Manthan, churning of the ocean first gave rise to the Halahala, the deadly poison, representing the oceans impurities. There were several ratnas or gems as well that arose from the Samudra Manthan. Forteen different ratnas were recovered and these were mostly kept by the demigods, although the asuras tried to cheat them out of the treasures. All kinds of herbs were cast into the ocean to produce these fourteen ratnas, which were divided between the asuras and demigods, as follows ~

* The ocean produced chandra, the crescent moon. Because of its cooling effect, chandra was offered to Lord Shiva to wear on his head.!
* Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune and Wealth, emerged next from the ksheersagar, resplendent in all her glory, showering her blessings to all the devas present.
* Kaustubha, the most valuable jewel in the world, adorning the chest of Shri MahaVishnu.
* Parijata, the divine flowering tree
* Varuni, goddess and creator of intoxicating beverages
* Dhanvantari, the doctor, aspect of Shri Vishnu stepped out of the ocean.
* Kamadhenu, mother of all cows, also had the power to grant any wish to the true seeker.
* Kalpavriksha, the wish-granting tree.
* Airavata, beautiful five headed divine elephant of Indra
* Apsaras, various divine nymphs like Rambha, Menaka, Punjikasthala, etc.
* Uchhaishravas, the divine 7-headed horse
* Sharanga, the bow of Vishnu
* Shankha, Shri Vishnu’s conch
* Amrita, the nectar of immortality. Dhanvantari had this golden pot of nector in hands, seeing which both devas and asuras got excited and spurred on a to fight to finish and win.