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The Lord's descents

CHENNAI : The Almighty incarnates in the world with the purpose of reinstating Dharma in the world by vanquishing those who pose a threat to it and to protect the righteous. So destruction of those who transgress Dharma happens as a consequence and is not His intention. There were two major incarnations in which the Lord did not annihilate anyone in His descents (Avataras) — Kurma (tortoise form) and Vamana (dwarfish form).

In his discourse, Sri B. Sundar Kumar said the Narayaneeyam had highlighted the spiritual significance of the Kurmavatara. Bhattatiri prayed that when a devotee's mind submerged in worldly matters like the Mandara mountain did when the milk ocean was churned, the Lord who assumed the form of a tortoise to stabilise it, should likewise support the devotee's mind to enable it to experience the bliss of spiritual union.

The gods surrendered to Lord Vishnu when Indra incurred the curse of Sage Durvasa that the celestials would lose their splendour. The three worlds (the Earth, heaven and the intermediate region) suffered as a consequence of the curse and Indra along with the celestials approached the creator, Brahma. Brahma then advised the gods to take refuge in the Supreme Being and they all went together. When Brahma propitiated the Lord He appeared before them in His divine form and advised them to go forth and make peace with their foes, Daityas (Asuras). He pointed out, "In the event of the object to be accomplished being of great moment, enemies too must be won over. Efforts should be put forth without delay for producing nectar, by drinking which even one who is in the jaws of death would become immortal."

The Almighty further told them that to obtain the nectar the ocean of milk should be churned with the help of the Asuras by casting into it all kinds of plants, grasses, creepers and herbs, and by making Mount Mandara as a churn-dasher and the king of serpents Vasuki as a rope for the churning, and promised to help them. When Indra approached Bali, his proposal found favour with the Daitya king when he told him that the Lord had directed him to seek his help. Lord Vishnu's mount Garuda helped to place the mountain on the shore of the ocean and made way for Vasuki to facilitate the churning of the ocean by the gods and the demons.

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