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Question:

What is meaning of "Samudra-Manthan" ?

Epic or real?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Samudra=sea, manthan=churning
According to Hindu Mythology, once the world was created along with the gods(suras) and the demons(asuras), all the treasures of the world and the Milk of Immortality were hidden at the bottom of the great ocean formed after floods.
To obtain all these treasures, the ocean was to be churned. For this task mountain Mandara was used a the churning stick which rested on the Kurma, the Tutle incarnation of lord Vishnu. this was churned using the snake Vasuki as churning rope.
One end of the rope was pulled by the suras and the asuras. The first thing to emerge was the Poison which could kill all life but this was drunk by Lord Shiva. He did not swallow it and it remained in his throat causing it to turn blue giving him the name Nilkantha.
Then various other things including Kalpvriksh and kamadhenu emerged from the Manthan. Finally, Dhanvantri the physician God came out carrying the Milk of Immortality which was first snatched away by the asuras.
Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a woman Mohini and was successful in taking it away from the asuras and gave it to the suras to drink. Hence the Gods are immortal while the asuras are not.