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Ethnobiological Analysis From Myth to Science: II. Samudra Manthana , A Symbolic Chronological Process for Re-establishment of the Human Ecology

2001; Kamla Raj Enterprises; Volume: 12; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/09709274.2001.11907621

2456-6608

Sachidananda Padhy, Santosh Kumar Dash, Ratnaprava Mohapatra, Kuldeep Kumar Panigrahy,

Biotechnology and Related Fields

The mythic event of Samudra Manthana, which is depicted in Kurma Puraana, was a process of churning of cosmic ocean in order to retrieve certain divine treasures lost during Pralaya (dissolution). The myth says, the Gods on one side and the demons on the other, wound the snake Ananta as rope around the mountain Mandana as the churning stick to carry out the process, which did Lord Vishnu in His Kurma Avataara (Gigantic tortoise) support. There was emergence of twelve precious objects (such as: 1. Airaavata- the wingwed elephant with seven tusks; 2. Chandra- the Moon; 3. Dhanus- the bow. 4. Dhanvantari with Amrit- the physician Gods with elixir of immortality; 5. Koustuva- the priceless gem; 6 Paarijaata- the wish fulfilling tree; 7. Rambhaa the heav-enly nymph; 8. Surabhi- the mother cow; 9. Suraa- the wine. 10. Shree- the Goddess of wealth and beauty; 11. Ssankha- the white conch shell and 12. Uchchaissrabaa- the white stallion with seven heads) with huge amount of Visha- the fiery poison. The scientific introspection of the myth reveals that the whole process and the precious objects emerged out of it. are symbolic representation to explain the whole event such that: “Dissolution has occurred as a natural phenomenon followed by loss of ecological homeostasis; in course of time slowly and systematically (due to interaction of progressive and retrogressive forces) the nature got re-established; the release of poison is attributed as a caution not to opt any violent or untoward action against nature and for non-sustainable use of it.”