Products of Ocean of Milk

              The ocean of milk was churned by Devas and Asuras. Meru was taken as the churning staff and the serpent Vasuki was used as the churning rope. 

             

Devas tried to carry the mountain Meru but it was too heavy even for all of them put together. Also they were not able to drag out the king of serpents, Vasuki. So, Devas sought the help of lord Vishnu. Lord decided to help them and sent his hawk, the mighty Garuda to carry Meru and Vasuki.

           Once Garuda had completed his task, Devas found that the mountain had started sinking inside the ocean of milk. At that moment, lord Vishnu incarnated as a large tortoise KURMA and carried the mountain. Then, Vasuki was coiled around the mountain.

           Devas found it difficult to churn. So lord Vishnu advised them to seek the help of their half-brothers Asuras. Devas caught hold of the tail of Vasuki and Asuras had the neck of Vasuki on their side.

           When they started churning, products of the ocean of milk started coming out of the ocean. First came the flying horse , Ucchaishrava. Then came out the white skinned elephant with seven trunks, Airavata.

           Then came Parijata tree or Kalpataru, a cow named Kamadhenu, a gem called Chintamani which was also known as Kaustubha.  Amrut came out from the ocean which was later given to the Devas by lord Vishnu. A nymph named Rambha and wine called Varuni too came out of the ocean of milk.

         

Then the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi arose from the ocean. Everyone waited with bated breath to see where Lakshmi will go. But  to everyone's surprise, she moved towards lord Vishnu and garlanded him.

         

Then, black viscid scum filled the air with putrid stench.  Devas and Asuras started choking as vile fumes envelopes everything in sight.  It was nothing other than Alakshmi, a terrible poison which was swallowed by lord Shiva.