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The Churning of the Ocean of Milk, ca. 1780-90. Creator: Unknown
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The Churning of the Ocean of Milk, ca. 1780-90. Creator: Unknown
The Churning of the Ocean of Milk, ca. 1780-90. At the time of the great deluge aeons ago, many treasures-- including amrita, the nectar of immortality--were lost beneath the primordial ocean. Gods and demons still jockeying for power decided to raise these powerful objects from the watery depths. They harnessed the serpent Vasuki as a rope to turn Mount Mandara and Vishnu assumed his tortoise avatar to support the giant pivot. The demons, tricked into pulling the head of the snake, were weakened by its poisonous breath. Here, many of the treasures have already been raised and are visible in the sky, while Vishnu is seen twice, below and atop the peak
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Media ID 19785006
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Demon Elephant Harness Himachal Pradesh Hinduism Ink And Opaque Watercolor On Paper Mandi Milk Ocean Punjab Punjabi Reptile Reptiles Rope Tortoise Vishnu Hindoostan
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The Churning of the Ocean of Milk, ca. 1780-90: A Divine Quest for Immortality". In this photo print, we are transported back to a time aeons ago when gods and demons embarked on a momentous quest beneath the primordial ocean. Lost treasures, including the coveted nectar of immortality called amrita, lay hidden in its depths. To retrieve these powerful objects, the gods and demons devised an ingenious plan. They harnessed Vasuki, a mighty serpent, as a rope to churn Mount Mandara while Vishnu assumed his tortoise avatar to support this colossal pivot. However, trickery played its part as the demons were deceived into pulling the snake's head and weakened by its poisonous breath. The image reveals that their arduous efforts have borne fruit; many treasures now float amidst the sky above. Vishnu is depicted twice - below supporting Mount Mandara and atop its peak overseeing this monumental task. This painting showcases intricate details with vibrant colors depicting various elements such as elephants, tortoises, ropes, deities and demons. It is an exquisite representation of Hindu mythology and religious beliefs from eighteenth-century India. Displayed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), this remarkable artwork captures not only our imagination but also offers us a glimpse into ancient Indian culture and heritage through ink and opaque watercolor on paper technique. As we gaze upon this masterpiece from Heritage Images collection at The Met museum in awe-inspiring wonderment unfolds before our eyes – reminding us of humanity's eternal quest for immortality intertwined with divine intervention.
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