The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c14.14

c14.14

The identity of Lakshmî with Ushas, I venture to assert, is proved by the allegory of the Churning of the Ocean, an ancient Indo-Aryan myth, the meaning of which has long been a mystery to Oriental scholars. It is really a vivid picture of the dawn and sunrise in the Himâlayas, which were evidently the cradle of one branch of the Indo-Aryan family; with Kailâsa, the great snow-capped peak of Siva, and Mount Mandara, Vishnu’s abode, in the background. The Devas, the powers of light, combine with the Asuras, the powers of darkness, to churn the cosmic ocean for the nectar of life and immortality. They use for a churning-stick Vishnu’s mountain, Mandara, and for a rope the serpent Ananta, or Eternity (the Milky Way), which encircles the earth. After a long churning, fire and poisonous smoke (the first glow upon the mountains before dawn, and the gathering together of the mists and clouds in the valleys) obscure the sky, and the Devas are disheartened. Siva drinks the poison and becomes “blue-throated,” *i.e.* the crimson glow on his snowy peak gradually turns to dazzling white and the mountain slopes below the snow-line become violet-blue. At the same time Lakshmî, the dawn, appears, seated on the Brahmâ lotus, bringing with her health, dance and song, happiness and prosperity, and the jar of nectar which Indra, the rain-god, pouring his refreshing showers upon her, takes into his keeping. As she rises from the cosmic ocean and prepares to fling herself upon Vishnu's breast, the Devas shout triumphant hymns and the powers of darkness fling themselves down into the underworld where they dwell.