The
Vishnu Purana features an important episode in
Hindu mythology known as the
Samudra Manthana, the churning of the ocean. According to this legend, the sage
Durvasa once acquired a divine garland from an
apsara, a celestial singer. When he came across
Indra, the king of the
devas, he hurled the garland towards him. Indra caught the garland and placed it upon his
elephant, who seized it with its trunk and flung it towards the earth. Durvasa, furious at the disrespectful treatment of his gift, proclaimed that the garland had been the dwelling of
Sri (fortune) and cursed Indra, stating that the latter would lose his dominion over the universe. The devas lost their strength due to a blight on
Amaravati, the non-performance of
sacrifices, and the loss of the devotion of human beings. Taking advantage of the weakness of their foes, the
daityas and the
danavas, together known as the
asuras, defeated the devas. The devas fled to seek refuge in
Brahma, who accompanied them to
Kshira Sagara, the realm of
Vishnu. After being propitiated, Vishnu appeared, and advised the devas to do perform the churning of the ocean of milk with the help of the
asuras. After the churning of the ocean, the goddess Lakshmi appeared, and was immediately offered veneration by all the assembled deities. The goddess
Ganga, as well as the
Ashtadiggajas, the elephants of the eight cardinal directions, bathed her, and the divine architect,
Vishvakarma, offered her ornaments. Lakshmi chose Vishnu as her consort, spiritually residing herself within his chest, restoring the providence of the devas. After the
amrita (nectar of immortality) had been offered to the devas, they were able to vanquish the asuras in battle, and the sovereignty of the
three worlds was restored to Indra. Indra eulogised Lakshmi with the Lakshmi Stuti. Pleased, the goddess offered him a boon of his choice. Indra requested that the three worlds may never again be deprived of her presence, and anyone who extolled the goddess with the same prayer that he had would never be forsaken by her. Lakshmi duly granted both of his wishes. == See also ==