Mandalam Musings Day 22- The symbolism of Samudra Manthan, Churning of the Milky Ocean

 

Mandalam Musings Day 22-

The symbolism of Samudra Manthan, Churning of the Milky Ocean

Indian scriptures are full of stories and legends that convey deeper spiritual principles aimed at imparting the knowledge of reality to the seekers in a more lucid manner. In the story of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the milky ocean, the ocean represents our mind with numerous thoughts and agitations that are changing all the time, just like the waves. Although the waves come in different sizes, shapes, and strengths, one thing is common to all of them that they do not last for long durations. One wave perishes and the next one is generated immediately following the previous one. The thoughts raising in our mind is mostly involuntary and fleeting. We know that only a calm ocean can reveal what is there underneath the mass of water, on the ocean floor, and similarly, only a calm mind can reveal the reality of what is beyond the mind.  

The mind is like a deep ocean with agitating and transient surface waves of thoughts appearing and disappearing continuously. In Indian philosophy, the concept of mind has been classified into different layers, of which four – Manas, Budhi, Chitha, and Ahankara- are the most prominent.

Our mind, Manas, is composed of incessantly wavering thoughts that are akin to oceanic waves. Intellect, Budhi, is the discriminating power that makes decisions on those thoughts, based on our past experiences and convictions. Ego, the Ahamkara, is the feeling of self in all these mental transactions as to see how they affect ‘me’, individually. The Chitha is the depository of the thoughts and tendencies derived from experiences gathered by the self hitherto in its journey in this life and before. These four aspects of the mind form the milky ocean, which needs to be churned by every seeker to get the elixir of immortality which is nothing but the realization of the self. It is, the individual Jeeva recognizing the microcosm; the Atman as the Macrocosm; the Brahman.

The Mandhara hill, the churner, is strong and steadfast to withstand the strenuous effort put in by the opposing forces of the Devas and Asuras.  In the spiritual path, our concentration and awareness must be like the Mandhara hill to withstand the trials and tribulations of life. It is only through the vision of reality we achieve the nectar of the realization of the truth. Concentration is required to keep us on the path of goal orientation. Here the goal is, indeed, self-realization.

The story starts where the Devas (good in us) lose their prominence due to careless living, bad habits or indiscrete action, end up having to work had to get it back. Our mind plays Deva’s and Asura’s roles due to several afflictions and distractions we fall prey to. The six enemies of the mind, which are: kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), Mada (pride), moha (attachment), and matsarya (jealousy) are ready to take over the nature of goodness (Devas) within us.  So, what are we to do to get rid of them?