In the heart of Griya Gede Mas, my main Merajan (a house temple), stands as a testament to the traditions and teachings passed down from generations before me. Within its sacred ceiling lies a painting that has held me spellbound since my youth. It whispers of ages long past, entwining the tales of gods and demons in a vivid tapestry of colour and emotion. The artwork adorns the timeless tale of duality, where good and bad once merged, spinning in a dance of eternal balance. Join me as we delve into the captivating narrative of “The Rotation of Mandara Giri – A Quest for Immortality.”
There was a time when the realms of gods and demons merged in pursuit of the sacred elixir of immortality, leading to an enigmatic collaboration between benevolent deities and malevolent demons. This unfolded, raising profound questions about power, everlasting life, and the complexities of divine alliances.
At the dawn of existence, Lord Vishnu, the preserver, took the form of Kurma, an awe-inspiring cosmic turtle, expanding to encompass the entire universe within its colossal shell. This transformation represented Vishnu’s second incarnation, a divine endeavour to safeguard humanity from impending chaos. With a profound purpose, Kurma delved into the enigmatic cosmic ocean of milk or Ksirasagara, which concealed the fabled nectar of immortality known as Amrita.
Within the celestial realm, the gods, including luminaries like Indra, Surya, and Narayana, convened to devise a strategy to extract the coveted elixir from the mystical depths of Ksirasagara. Despite their innate virtues of wisdom, humility, and benevolence, the gods acknowledged the insurmountable magnitude of their task and recognized the necessity of forming an alliance. An unprecedented realization dawned upon them: their quest for immortality demanded the cooperation of their erstwhile adversaries—the demons and the infernal denizens of wick.
This union between divine and demonic forces, seemingly inconceivable, speaks volumes about the intricate interplay of light and darkness, virtue and vice. It evokes profound contemplation on the duality within all existence and the inherent blending of opposing forces in the cosmic tapestry of existence. The gods, in their humility, acknowledged the limitations of their individual might and recognized the potential for transformative collaboration with the very entities they once opposed.
The strategic orchestration of Vishnu’s incarnation of Kurma Avatar – a giant turtle bearing the weight of the world, with Mandara Giri, the highest mountain in the universe, as the churn, perched upon Kurma’s shell and held firmly with the strength of two celestial dragons, Basuki and Antaboga, became the focal point of the laborious endeavour. The gods and demons, once bitter enemies, now stood side by side, united in purpose.
With their plan set, the gods and demons began to work together to churn the cosmic ocean of milk in hopes of retrieving the nectar of immortality. As they toiled day and night, the poisonous fumes rose, threatening to harm them all. In a moment of bravery, Lord Shiva stepped forward and consumed the deadly poison, holding it in his throat, made his neck blue to save all those involved in the process.
As the work progressed, the demons’ true motivations began to show. They had only agreed to help with the extraction of the nectar under the condition that they be positioned at the forefront, closest to the holy water. The gods, wisely anticipating their plan, agreed to the demand but placed themselves at the edge of the tails of both dragons.
As the work neared its end, the golden vessel containing the nectar of immortality finally broke the surface of the ocean. In a flash, the demons sprang forward to grab it, proclaiming their victory. But their joy was short-lived.
The gods had a trick up their sleeves. They sought the aid of Lord Vishnu, who transformed into the beautiful Goddess Mohini. Her beauty captivated the demons, who eagerly sought to win her favour. Seeing an opportunity, Goddess Mohini convinced the demons to bathe before approaching her and let her guide the vessel of holy water. Once the demons were out of sight, Mohini flew away with the vessel, leaving the demons empty-handed. Fuelled by their anger, the demons waged a war with the gods, believing them to be the orchestrators of Mohini’s deception. The celestial battle between good and evil erupted, shattering the peace of the heavens.
Amidst the chaos, the vessel containing the holy water was fiercely contested, passing from one hand to another. In the ensuing struggle, a few precious drops of the nectar fell to Earth, one of which landed upon a sharp thorn. A passing snake, enticed by the divine fragrance, attempted to claim the holy water but suffered a fatal wound, splitting its tongue into two in the process.
Seizing an opportune moment, a demon named Kala Rau managed to acquire the vessel and drink its contents. However, before the holy water entered his body, Lord Vishnu intervened, beheading Kala Rau with his formidable chakra weapon. Despite the body’s demise, Kala Rau’s head remained animated, granting him an immortal existence, forever blessed by the sacred nectar. Thus, he became known as the demon of time, Kala – a living head with an indomitable spirit.
The gods, having regained possession of the holy water, consumed it in its entirety. Empowered by its divine essence, they ascended to new heights of strength and resilience. With their newfound might, they vanquished the demons from the heavens, asserting their dominance once more.
But the true lesson of this epic story lies not in the victory of the gods, but in the unity and balance that was achieved through cooperation between opposing forces. The gods recognized that they needed the demon’s ambition, anger, and egoism to achieve their goal, so they let them placed in the front, but they also knew they must temper these traits with their own virtuous characteristics of wisdom, humility, and benevolence in the tail as the control.
Ultimately, the tale teaches us about the importance of balance in life. We must embrace our inner demons and use them to achieve our goals, but we must also keep them in check with our inner gods of wisdom, kindness, and humility. Only in this way can we achieve true balance, success, and happiness.
