A Spectacular Sculpture!

Far away from home, in a distant country, seeing a sculpture so significant and dear to me, dear to my religion and my country has made me very happy. Earlier I have seen pictures of it but now physically witnessing this huge colourful sculpture and walking around it was a thrilling and unforgettable experience. I do not know its exact size but it could be very close to the similar 49 meter-wide bas-relief carved on the walls of the east gallery of Angkor Wat Temple, a religious site built in the 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman II, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known popularly as the Eighth Wonder of the World. What I have witnessed and I am happily writing about is the Samudra Manthan sculpture at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand, and the famous Angkor Wat Temple is at Siem Reap in Cambodia. These two countries have not forgotten their long relation with Hinduism from times before the Christian era and until several centuries thereafter even after Buddhism has become their popular religion. Several Hindu temples; small and large, still exist in both these countries and their Kings and people still practice many Hindu customs and offer prayers to Hindu Gods. Samudra Manthan or Samudra Manthanam is also known as Sagar Manthan and Ksheersagar Manthan.

Such a marvel to be created in India would not be easy, in fact impossible. It saddens me to write that any attempt here for such sculpture associated with Hinduism in a public place like an Airport or Park would be impossible, with protests, agitations and the unbearable hue and cry that will be raised by ever disgruntled politicians, some of them with just one MP or no participation in our Parliament and of course by the innumerable press and print media with their illogically biased and trouble creating editors, loud and foul-mouthed anchors and dirty, ill-mannered political analysts and disgusting journalists who are born to contradict everything and criticize anyone who speaks for the Hindus, the majority in my country. What can be more unfortunate and sadder than this for us. God save us, our culture and our religion.

For those of you who may not be aware of what Samudra Manthan is or have forgotten about it, here is a brief about it:

It is said that a long time ago, Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) were fighting against each other to ensure their domination over the world. After many years of war, Devas were weakened and almost vanquished; so they went to see Supreme God Vishnu to ask Him for help. The latter promised to strengthen Devas by ordering them to seek for the Amrita, the sacred Elixir of Immortality. But this difficult task could not be achieved by them alone. They had to gather their forces in cooperation with Asuras in order to extract the Amrita from the depths of the cosmic sea – the Ocean of Milk.

To do so, they used Mount Meru as a churning stick and the King of snakes Vasuki as a churning rope. Devas and Asuras both pulled alternatively the Naga Vasuki on their respective side to churn the Ocean of Milk. As Mount Meru was sinking, God Vishnu turned himself into his turtle avatar that is Kurma avatar to stabilize the mountain. Many treasures came out of the Ocean of Milk. Amongst them were celestial beings like Goddess Lakshmi Devi, Goddess of fortune who accepted Lord Vishnu as her consort. Apsaras like Rambha, Menaka, Urvashi, Punjisthala etc., coming on earth to entertain Gods and Kings. Kamdhenu or Surabhi – the wish-granting cow, taken by Brahma and given to the sages so that the ghee from her milk could be used for Yajna and similar rituals. Airavata and several other elephants, taken by Indra. Uchhaishravas, the divine seven-headed horse, given to Bali.  Kaustubha, the most valuable ratnam (divine jewel) in the world, worn by Vishnu. Parijata, the divine flowering tree with blossoms that never fade or wilt, taken to Indraloka by the Devas. Sharanga, a powerful bow, given to Lord Vishnu. Chandra, the moon which adorned Shiva's head. And many other precious things like Shankha - Vishnu's conch and  Kalpavriksha: a divine wish-fulfilling tree.

The demons, tricked into pulling the head-side of the giant snake, were weakened after a thousand years of efforts by the Naga’s poison. Fortunately for them, God of health Dhanvantari emerged from the Ocean of Milk with the sacred Amrita. So they seized the elixir for their own sake.

As they were frightened by this act, the Devas informed Vishnu of the situation. The Supreme God then turned into another of His avatar, Mohini, the most beautiful woman on earth. Mohini charmed the Asuras and took the opportunity to steal the Elixir of Immortality and gave it to the Devas. From this moment, the Gods would rule the world and send the Demons to hell.

One of the Asuras named Rahu, disguised himself as a God and drank a few drops of the Amrita. He was spotted by the Sun and the Moon who immediately alerted Vishnu. The Supreme God immediately decided to cut off Rahu’s head, however the demon had already swallowed a small quantity of the Elixir. Only his head remained alive and ever since he swore to take revenge on the Sun and Moon. He would try to swallow both of them whenever they would come close to him but as he would have no body, the Sun and the Moon would then reappear from the bottom of his head. This is, according to Hindu mythology, the cause of lunar and solar eclipses.

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