DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0216
r44 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
the mountain. The gods grew weary, but Vishnu gave
them fresh strength to proceed with the work. At length
the moon emerged from the ocean; then arose the
Apsaras, who became nymphs in Indra's heaven; they
were followed by the goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's white
steed, and the gleaming gem which the god wears on his
breast. Then came Dhanwantari, the physician of the
gods, who carried a golden cup brimming with amrita.
Beholding him, the Asuras cried out: "The gods have
taken all else; the physician must be ours."
Next arose the great elephant Airavata, which Indra
took for himself. The churning still went on until the
blue, devastating poison appeared and began to flow over
the earth, blazing like a flame mixed with fumes. To
save the world from destruction, Shiva swallowed the
poison and held it in his throat. From that time he was
called Nilakantha, "the blue-throated".
Meanwhile the demons desired to combat against the
gods for the possession of the beautiful goddess Lakshmi
and the amrita. But Vishnu assumed a bewitching female
form, and so charmed the Asuras that they presented the
amrita to that fair woman.
Vishnu immediately gave the amrita to the gods, but
soon it was discovered that a demon named Rahu had
assumed Celestial form with purpose to drink it. The
amrita had only reached his throat when the sun and
moon discovered him and informed Vishnu. The divine
Preserver then flung his discus and cut off Rahu's huge
head, which resembled a mountain peak. Rendered
immortal by the amrita the head soared to the sky, roar-
ing loud and long. From that day Rahu's head, with
mouth agape, has followed sun and moon, and when he
swallows one or the other he causes the eclipses.
Meanwhile the demons fought against the gods, but
the mountain. The gods grew weary, but Vishnu gave
them fresh strength to proceed with the work. At length
the moon emerged from the ocean; then arose the
Apsaras, who became nymphs in Indra's heaven; they
were followed by the goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's white
steed, and the gleaming gem which the god wears on his
breast. Then came Dhanwantari, the physician of the
gods, who carried a golden cup brimming with amrita.
Beholding him, the Asuras cried out: "The gods have
taken all else; the physician must be ours."
Next arose the great elephant Airavata, which Indra
took for himself. The churning still went on until the
blue, devastating poison appeared and began to flow over
the earth, blazing like a flame mixed with fumes. To
save the world from destruction, Shiva swallowed the
poison and held it in his throat. From that time he was
called Nilakantha, "the blue-throated".
Meanwhile the demons desired to combat against the
gods for the possession of the beautiful goddess Lakshmi
and the amrita. But Vishnu assumed a bewitching female
form, and so charmed the Asuras that they presented the
amrita to that fair woman.
Vishnu immediately gave the amrita to the gods, but
soon it was discovered that a demon named Rahu had
assumed Celestial form with purpose to drink it. The
amrita had only reached his throat when the sun and
moon discovered him and informed Vishnu. The divine
Preserver then flung his discus and cut off Rahu's huge
head, which resembled a mountain peak. Rendered
immortal by the amrita the head soared to the sky, roar-
ing loud and long. From that day Rahu's head, with
mouth agape, has followed sun and moon, and when he
swallows one or the other he causes the eclipses.
Meanwhile the demons fought against the gods, but