10 Amazing Stories of Lord Vishnu

   you must read #9

Vayu looked strangely at Indra, ‘What happened? I remember lifting Mount Mandara, and then nothing…’

Bali was meanwhile looking after his colleagues and making sure they were ok. He looked at Vishnu and thanked Vishnu.

Indra explained to Vayu and the other Gods about how they were crushed under the Mountain. All the Devas and the Asuras fell at Lord Vishnu’s feet and thanked him. Vishnu smiled and he carried Mount Mandara on Garuda’s back and placed it near the ocean and turned to Garuda, ‘Friend, it is best you do not come to this place again. Vasuki the king of serpents would never come as long as you are here.’ Garuda nodded. Birds and snakes were natural enemies… Garuda flew off. Lord Vishnu also vanished.

Both the Devas and the Asuras feeling happy now, went near the ocean to place Mount Mandara inside the ocean.

That was when they had another problem.

When the Devas and the Asuras placed the mountain inside the ocean, there was nothing to hold up the mountain, and it kept slipping down, inside the huge ocean.

The Devas and the Asuras have dejected once again. They could not find anything huge enough to give support to the mountain inside the ocean to prevent it from slipping deep inside.

Indra bitterly complained to Agni, ‘How can we churn the ocean, Agni. The mountain keeps sinking inside the ocean. I do not think we can find anything big enough to support Mount Mandara…To come so close and not be able to do anything…’ Indra said frustrated.

Agni gently touched Indra’s shoulder. ‘Lord Vishnu will help us,’ he said. Indra nodded and prayed to the Lord once more. Oh Lord please help us. This can be solved only by you…

Lord Vishnu came in the form of a giant tortoise [his second avatar – Kurma Avatar] and plunged into the ocean. He went under the ocean and picked the submerged Mount Mandara and put it on his back. The Mountain now stood firmly on the tortoise’s back, inside the ocean.

Now the Devas and the Asuras dropped medicinal herbs into the ocean so that their churning would lead to good results.

The Devas asked Vasuki to come and coil himself around the mountain and started the actual churning.

After Vasuki coiled himself, Lord Vishnu’s warning flashed through Indra’s head Make sure you hold Vasuki’s tail and not his head. Indra now knew what he had to do.

He rushed forward and grabbed Vasuki’s head, almost strangling Vasuki in the process. ‘We are going to hold on the head, you can hold on to the other side.’ He said to the Asura King contemptuously. Bali wondered what could have prompted Indra to act such when his minister rushed forward. ‘You weakling! You dare make such demands! Who are you to say anything? Don’t forget you are weak and you are outnumbered. We…’

Bali tried to think wondering whether this was a trap, however, his minister has grabbed Vasuki’s head and pushed Indra back. Indra fell back and pretended to be dejected as he went over to the overside.

To be continued…🙏🏻🙏🏻