Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India by Madhur Jaffrey

Author:Madhur Jaffrey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New York Review Books
Published: 2022-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

The Moon and the Heavenly Nectar

HEN THE WORLD WAS FORMED, the Creator of the Universe churned the mighty oceans to see what they might throw up.

The oceans then were filled with milk and popping out of them, like rocks from a volcano, came massive rubies, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires.

Out of the churning also came the Heavenly Nectar of Immortality and Poison.

When the Poison came out, it was accompanied by much fuming and hissing. The milky ocean immediately turned to salt water. The god Shiva, wanting to protect the world, took the Poison and put it in his throat, which is why his neck is always as blue as the wings of a shining butterfly.

Everyone wanted the Nectar of Immortality. At that time, there were no human beings, only gods and demons, who immediately began squabbling over it.

Vishnu, the Creator and Preserver, was watching all this from the heavens and decided it was time to step in. In his thunderous voice, he called out:

‘All you gods and demons, tonight I will decide the question of immortality once and for all. Let us all meet at midnight.’

When they all met that night, Vishnu came disguised as a beautiful maiden and in his arms he carried the jug of nectar. He asked the gods and demons to sit in a row and when he passed a demon, he flirted with him and fluttered his eyelashes to distract him. When he passed a god, he quickly gave him a sip of nectar, for it was his intention that only the gods should become immortal.

However, he made one mistake.

As he passed Rahu, the evil star, he raised the jug of nectar to offer him a sip.

Fortunately the Moon was watching and he sent out a quick beam towards Vishnu with the message, ‘Watch out for Rahu, the Demon.’

But it was too late. A single drop of nectar had already passed Rahu’s lips. Vishnu, greatly upset at what he had done, drew his sword and cut off Rahu’s head.

But Rahu had already swallowed a drop of nectar and he did not die.

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