Churning Of Milky Ocean

The churning of the milky ocean is an episode that highlights the greatness of Goddess Mahalakshmi known as Sri Peria Piratti in the Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam.  The most important function She performs for our benefit is Purushakaram. In order to perform the task of Purushakaram (recommendation).  We can rest assured when we have our recommendation because Perumal will never say “no” to Her. The churning of the milky ocean reveals His love for Her. This episode shows the love and enthusiasm with which Perumal churned the ocean to obtain Her as His consort.

Due to the curse of Sage Durvasa, the Devas lost “Lakshmi Kataksham”. Perumal agreed to help them by churning the milky ocean. Goddess Sridevi the bride of Lord Vishnu is Jaganmatah the mother of the Universe. Sridevi’s appearance as the daughter of Samudra Rajan and as the daughter of Sage Brigu are her incarnations just like the way in which Lord Vishnu incarnated as King Dasaratha’s son during Ramavataram and as the son of Vasudeva during Krishnavataram.

Perumal in His eagerness to obtain Sri Peria Piratti, took many different forms and helped the Devas and the Asuras churn the milky-ocean. When He churned the milky ocean, He took many different forms with many different colours. 

He took the form of a tortoise and supported Mount Mandhara on His back. At the same time, He also appeared on top of Lord Garuda and pushed down on the peak of Mount Mandara and prevented the mountain from slipping. He was also present in sayana thirukolam on Ksheerabhdhi witnessing the churning of the milky ocean. Other than the above three forms, He took two more forms to stay by the Devas and Asuras and continuously encouraged them and increased their enthusiasm. Above all, He as the antaryami of the Devas and Asuras gave them power to churn the milky-ocean. Outwardly it looked as if the Devas and the Asuras churned the ocean , but in reality , it was Lord Vishnu who as the antaryami of the Devas churned the ocean. To indicate Perumal as the antaryami of the Devas and Asuras, I have sketched the divine face of Lord Jagannatha next to each Deva and Asura. 

The Yoga Narasimha image on the top left-hand corner of the sketch indicates that all the time while He was churning the ocean, He was meditating on Goddess Mahalakshmi (See image of Sri Ranga Nachiar on the top left-hand corner). He put in a great effort and retrieved the wealth from the ocean which He gave to the Devas and the Asuras. He gave them the “elixir” which was only a decoy because the real elixir that He sought was Goddess Mahalakshmi. He gave the Devas the ordinary “elixir” and took the பெண் அமுது for Himself! 

If Perumal is Ishwaran, Goddess Mahalakshmi is Ishwara. The Vedic Verses address Goddess Mahalakshmi as Ishwara and not as Ishwari. By addressing Her as Ishwara, the verses establish Her Supremacy. When someone is addressed as Ishwari, it means she is the first lady; she is Ishwari because her husband is the president. On the other hand, addressing someone as Ishwara is akin to addressing a lady as “Madame President”.

Sri Thirumazhsai Azhwar in his Naanmuganthiruvandadhi has said ,’those deities who are not with Goddess Sri are not the Supreme; hence worship only the one who is the husband of Goddess Mahalakshmi, worship only the one who is Srinivasan because He is the abode of Goddess Mahalakshmi ( திருவில்லாத் தேவரைத் தேறேல்மீன் தேவு)’ It is Goddess Mahalakshmi who gives identity to Perumal as the Supreme Personality.

Those who wish to perform prapatti seek recommendation from Goddess Mahalakshmi. She is praised as the one who has three aakarams; upayakaram, upeyakaram and purushakaram.  She along with Lord Sriman Narayanan.

UpAya AakAram  - The Supreme Fruit of moksham can be attained only by their combined blessings. Hence, Goddess Mahalakshmi with Lord Srinivasan together are our means to attain moksham. When Lord Krishna said “maam ekam saranam vraja”, by “maam”, He referred to both Him and Piratti. As GoddessMahalakshmi is never away from Him, “maam” also includes Her. Therefore we must perform saranagathi at the lotus feet of both Piratti and Perumal.

PurushakAra AakAram (Recommendation) –When we perform saranagathi, She represents our case to Perumal. At first Perumal doesn’t wish to erase our karma as we have accumulated sins over many births by transgressing the Shastras. but, our compassionate mother Goddess Mahalakshmi,  makes Him understand that while it is our nature to commit misdeeds, it is His nature to forgive. She wins His heart with Her arguments and makes Him bless us.

upEya AakAram and (fruit obtained). Goddess Mahalakshmi together with Lord Srinivasan is the Supreme fruit. When we reach Paramapatham, we perform Nithya Kaimkaryam to both Perumal and Piratti.

The most important function She performs for our benefit is Purushakaram. In order to perform the task of Purushakaram (recommendation).  We can rest assured when we have our recommendation because Perumal will never say “no” to Her. The churning of the milky ocean reveals His love for Her. This episode shows the love and enthusiasm with which Perumal churned the ocean to obtain Her as His consort.