(During the first millennium BCE to early second millennium CE, churning of ocean (Sanskrit: Samudra manthan), mentioned in Bhagavata Purana, Mahabharata and in Vishnu Purana. It was practiced to produce the nectar (Amrit) from the ocean. The Mandra mountain was used as churning rod and Vasuki (Serpent king) as churning rope to perform the manthan. Lord Vishnu have taken the Kurma Avatar to support the drowning mountain on his back and advised Gods (Devtas) to hold Vasukis’s tail and Demons (Asuras) to hold the head part in churning rope. The churning of ocean has produced lots of valuable and some non-valuable things from ocean. In fact, Samudra mantha in practical aspects teaches us to make balance between positives and negatives phases in life. As an Indian it’s a matter of pride for all of us that government of Thailand had recognized it and made a beautiful artwork of Samudra manthan in the center of Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkok, Thailand, in the year 2006.)
ডঃ শুভ্র চক্রবর্তী, রিসার্চ প্রোফেসর
Inje University, Republic of Korea
