Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purānic . pro-duced from the sea, at the churning of the ocean bythe demons and the gods. The account of the churning of the ocean, to whichfrequent reference is made in the Hindu scriptures,is found in the Ramayana, and several of the Puranasthough there are some discrepancies, they agree inthe main. The reason for this great act is as followsf :—A saint named Durvaras, a portion of Siva, wastravelling, when he met a celestial nymph with asweet-smelling garland, which at his request she gaveto him. Excited with the scent, he was dancing,when he met Indra, seated on
Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purānic . pro-duced from the sea, at the churning of the ocean bythe demons and the gods. The account of the churning of the ocean, to whichfrequent reference is made in the Hindu scriptures,is found in the Ramayana, and several of the Puranasthough there are some discrepancies, they agree inthe main. The reason for this great act is as followsf :—A saint named Durvaras, a portion of Siva, wastravelling, when he met a celestial nymph with asweet-smelling garland, which at his request she gaveto him. Excited with the scent, he was dancing,when he met Indra, seated on his elephant. To pleasethe mighty god, the saint presented him with thegarland, who placed it upon his elephants head. Theelephant in his turn becoming excited, seized thegarland with his trunk and threw it upon the ground. » Page 80, If Vishnu Purana, Book i, chap. ix. LAKSHMI. I3i Durvaras, seeing his gift slighted, cursed the god inhis anger, and told him that his kingdom should beoverwhelmed with ruin. From that time. Indras. LAKSHMI. for though he sought forgive- power began to wane ,ness, the Brahmans anger was not to be the effects of the curse were experienced by the gods,they, fearing they should be overcome by the asuras, fledto Brahma for help. He told them he could not assistthem ; that Vishnu alone could do this, whom he ad-vised them to seek. Brahma conducted them to Vishnu;and, having sufficiently lauded him, caused him to lenda willing ear to their request. In the following lines,* * Indian Wisdom, p. 499. 132 THE PURANIC DEITIES. put into verse, from the Vishnu Purana, we havetheir prayer, Vishnus advice and its result:— The gods addressed the mighty Vishnu thus : Conquered in battle by the evil demons,We fly to thee for succour ; soul of all,Pity and by thy might deliver us ! Hari, the lord, creator of the world,Thus by the gods implored, all graciouslyReplied, Your strength shall be restored, ye gods—Only accomplish what I now command :Uni
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