Samundra Manthan during journey of life

Samundra Manthan during journey of life
The mythological episode of Samundra Mandhan (Ksheera Sagara Manthan or Sagar Manthan) or Churning of ocean is mentioned in Bhagavata Purana, in the Mahabharata and in the Vishnu Purana. The story is about churning of ocean by Devas and Asuras in search of Amrita or nectar of immortality.

Tales of in Vedas, Puranas and other Hindu religious books have always tried to teach man some profound principles in life symbolically. This story gives us a good description of how our nature works. Every human being is influenced by positive and negative tendencies.  

Effective balancing of the positive & negative tendencies and harmonizing both these energies attain salvation and true bliss in this lifetime. When milk is churned, butter becomes separated from the milk. In the material world, one achieves positions and wealth during the life journey. But those who aspire for bliss initially get Halahala (Poison, sufferings) and if they conquer it and further are not swayed away by powers, wealth & successes, get ultimate bliss.

In spiritual journey, butter is sattva and mental brilliance or pure intelligence. As by heating process at medium or low temperature, butter converts into Ghee, likewise by practice of austerities like deep meditation, self-control & discipline and other spiritual practices, the practitioner experiences supernormal vision and bliss.

The episode symbolically explains various stages of elevation of Human Being –

1. Primitive stage of elevation is where impulses whether positive or negative, are generated in mind due to desires and the person oscillates according to impulses.  Such persons lack decision making.
2. Materialistic stage of elevation is represented by Mount Mandara. At this stage, the person takes the decisions by using the available intelligence and gathered information. Such persons take decisions based on profit and loss and achieve material successes. 
3. Spiritualistic stage of elevation is signified by Kurma. As Kurma withdraws all himself into shell, the persons need to withdraw from senses & thoughts, without being affected by attraction like Mohini, sufferings like Halahala & pleasures like getting gems, and reside in Atman to attain ultimate goal of moksha.

 
The mythological episode and the spiritual concept are explained as under:
The mythological episode:

1. Rishi Durvasa while visiting Indraloka, gave a special garland of fortune to Indra, the deity of Vedic times. Indra placed the garland on the trunk of his elephant. The elephant threw the garland on ground over which Rishi Durvasa got enraged and cursed Indra and all devas to get deprived of their all strength, energy, and fortune. Consequently, devas were defeated by Asuras, led by Bali and gained control over entire universe.
2. The Devas approached Bhagwan Vishnu for help who suggested them for Samundra Manthan and to corroborate with the Asuras to extract nectar. Both agreed for it with condition to distribute the extracted things equally.
3. To churn the ocean, Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod and Vasuki, serpent on Shiva's neck, became the churning rope. 
4. As the churning got underway, the huge mountain, having no support, started to sink into the ocean. Seeing this, Bhagwan Vishnu acted immediately and took the form of the giant-sized, divine Tortoise or the Kurma Avatara. Plunging deep into the ocean, He bore the colossal mountain on His back.
5. On advice of Bhagwan Vishnu, Devas pulled from the side of tail of Vasuki and Asuras from his head side. As a result, the Asuras were poisoned by fumes emitted by Vasuki. Despite this, the Devas and the Asuras pulled back and forth on the snake's body alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean.
6. In the process, churning of ocean released both lethal poison as well as gems.  Nobody accepted lethal poison called as Halahala. Then the Devas approached Shiva for protection. Shiva consumed the poison to protect the three worlds but it burned the throat of shiva. As a result, his throat turned blue and was hence called Neelakantha.
7. Subsequently, four kinds of gems emerged viz. celestial body (Moon), celestial beings (Lakshmi; Apsrasa-Menaka, Rambha, Punjisthala etc; Dhanvantari-divine Ayurvedic Doctor; Sura or Varuni-the goddess of wine), supernatural animals (Ucchaishravas-flying horse with seven heads; Kamadhenu-wish fulfilling cow; Airavata-white elephant with five heads) & plants (Kalpvriksha-wish granting tree, Parijata-divine tree) and precious jewels (Kasthubha). Finally, Dhanvantari (the divine physician) appeared with the vessel of Amrita in his skillful hands
8. Both Devas and Asuras fought for Amrita (nectar). As per the promise made by Bhagwan Vishnu with Devas to get them Amrita, he took the form of Mohini, a beautiful damsel, and enticed the asuras to let her distribute the nectar among them all, on the condition that they would never question any of her actions. Totally taken in by her beauty, the asuras readily agreed to her conditions. Mohini asked the Devas to be seated in a row and started distributing the Amrita to them first. Rahu, one of the Asura, disguised himself as Deva and drank Amrita. Surya and moon devas informed Mohini about it.  Furious, Vishnu lifted his Sudarshana Chakra (discus) and cut off Rahu's head. However, some of the nectar had managed to get down his throat and he did not die: from that day, his head was called Rahu and his body Ketu, which both later became planets. By the time Mohini was done with her task, there was not even a drop of nectar left in the pitcher.

The Spiritual concept
The episode symbolically represents the forces working within human beings.

1. What is Ocean - Mind is a place where the information gathered, perceptions, thoughts, and emotions play on it like the waves of the ocean. Mind can be equated to Samsara as whatever is gathered or perceived through five senses, is assimilated in the mind and the entire film of this world (past or present) is that only. Nothing is beyond the mind. 
2. Who are Devas & The Asuras – Every human being experiences positive and negative tendencies. The positive tendencies are Devas and negative tendencies are Asuras.
   1. Positive tendencies are truthfulness, purity & uprightness, simplicity, generosity, self-restraint (for sex, money, Food, Praise, temper etc.), service & devotion, fairness, contentment, acceptance of others, forgiveness, guilelessness, austerity, courage, discipline, austerity, detachment etc.
   2. Negative tendencies are Kama Vasana (Lust for sex), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (attachment), Mada (over pride), Madsara (Jealousy), Ahankara (Arrogance, Egoism), Amanavta (Cruelty, Violence – word, action, thought), Anyaaya (Injustice), Adamber (Hypocrisy), Swartha (selfishness), and Delusion etc.
3. Why Collaboration (of Devtas & Devas) – The left side of the brain is responsible for controlling the right side of the body. It also performs tasks that have to do with logic, such as in science and mathematics. On the other hand, the right hemisphere coordinates the left side of the body, and performs tasks that have do with creativity and the arts. It is clear, unless both sides of brain collaborate; the person cannot achieve optimum success.
4. Who is Serpent Vasuki – It represents desire or goals.
5. What is Mount Mandara – The Mandara Mountain represents the steadiness and concentration within mind like the mountain.
6. What is Kurma or Tortoise – Concentration of mind is achieved, when the person withdraws from senses, thoughts and resides in Atman like Tortoise which withdraws himself into the shell.
7. How the churning process works - It is the process through which human life is tested. For innumerable desires, positive and negative tendencies play their roles to achieve the desires or goals which consequently bring the moments of pleasure and pain, physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual struggles in life.
8. Who is Mohini - Mohini symbolizes the delusion of the mind, arising out of pride and ego.
9. What is Halahala and Amrita – Halahala and Amrita represent sufferings and bliss respectively. The story of Lord Shiva consuming the Halahala poison educates us on how we should deal with this inner turmoil with courage, discipline, austerity, detachment and total commitment to leading a life of asceticism. Shiva also teaches us how to hold the poison of our inner selves only at a surface level, without letting the same get into our system or our mind, thereby affecting our entire life.
10. Symbolically, what are Gems and jewels (elephant, various jewels, Parijat, Chandra, Apsaras, Gandharva, Varun, Laxmi etc.) – In material journey, Dharma, Artha, Kama & Moksha are important. Elephant represent Dharma, Various jewels & Parijat represent Artha, Chandra, Apsaras, Gandharva & Varun represents Kama and Laxmi joins Dharma, Artha and Kama. In spiritual journey, these represent powers (siddhis) which develop during the journey.

 
Reference:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samudra_manthan
2. https://www.hinduwebsite.com/churning.asp
3. https://www.dollsofindia.com/library/samudra_manthan/