The Churning of

/ the Ocean^S
 Illustrated Classics From India

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Amar Chitra Katha is a collection of illustrated classics that retell stories from Indian
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No. 538 • Rs 30

INDIA BOOK HOUSE

M ahalaxm i Cham bers, 5th Floor, 22 Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400 02 6, India.

© India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 1997 Reprinted: June 2005 ISBN : 81-7508-192-9
Printed at Krishna Art Printery Pvt. Ltd, U nit No. B-8, Sussex Industrial
Estate, Dadoji Konddeo Cross M arg, Byculla (E), Mumbai - 400 027.
. . W HEN H E 3 E H E L P , //V T H E H A N P S O F SO H E A P Y WAS TH E P E R F U M E O F T H O S E
A F lY / H S N W M PH , A e ft P L A N O O F H E ft VENL b' FLO W ER S T H A T T H E S A G E B E C A M E F R F N T/C
FLO W ER S* W/TH P E S / R E FO R T H E G A R LA N D .
B EA U TIFU L NWMPH!
SI VE M E THAT GARLAND,
PRAW W U j

VOU A R E W ELCOME
TO IT , MH LO RD , FO R
HOU A R E C ER T A IN LY
W O RTH S O F IT .

* H E IS B E L fE V E P TO B E A P A R T R E/N C A R N A J/O N O F SH /VA

 a m a r chitra katha
B H A M P B V H E SA W /N O R A , T H E IN P R A W AS S E A T E P ON T H E
LO R P O F T H E G O P& WHO R U L E S TH E C E L E S T /A L E L E P H A N T A /RA VA TA .
T H R E E W O R LD S, A P P R O A C H /N G .

2
 TH E CHURNING OF THE OCEAN

B U T P U R VASA WAS UNH/ELP /N G . FRO M TH A T PAW C W W A R P S, P L A N T S A N D

H E R B S B E G A N TO W /TH ER. /N PRA A N P T H E
I m NOT COMPASSIONATE S O P S L O S T TH EIR VIGOUR.
OF HEART, NOR PO I FORGIVE
EASILY. I WILL NOT R E LE N T . ‘iOU
WHO ARE SO ARROGANT S H
N A TU RE— PO YOU E X P E C T ME
TO A C C EPT YOUR N EW - FOUN,
HUMILITY r>

3
 a m a r chitra katha
IN THIS SITUATION , IT WAS TH E A SU R A S, T H E
E N E M IE S O F TH E P E V A S , WHO B EN EF/T EP .
TH EH TA U N TEP TH E P E V A S .
HOU P RO U P ANP
ARRO G AN T PEVAS!
CO M E, F IG H T
W ITH U S !

T H E P EV A S W ER E FO R C E D TO A C C E P T G R E A T N U M B ER S O F P EV A S W ER E F E L L E P A N P
T H E C H A L L E N G E , TH O U G H T H E 1
-/ W E R E CO U LP N O T R IS E A G A IN . T H E R E S T , H E A P E P BW
U N W ILLIN G . A SN J, T H E G O P O F F IR E , F L E D .

BRA H M A ’S C O U R T WQS ON T H E C R E S T O F TH E SH IN IN G
M O UN T M E R U . /T W A S F U L L O F G R A C E FU L T R E E S ,
FR A G R A N T FLO W E R S A N P CO O L S T R E A M S . B U T T H E
P EV A S W ER E N O T SO O T H EP EV EN B H T H E S O F T B R E E Z E .
T-

4
TH E CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN

5
a m a r ch itra katha

6
THE CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN

THAT IS WH H I S A Y
YOU M U S T F IR S T M AHE
PEA C E WITH TH EM . TH EN
YOU M U S T E N D E A V O U R
TO CHURN UP
THE N ECTAR O F
IMMORTALITY FRO M
T H E OCEAN.
a m a r chitra katha

8
 TH E CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN

BALJ P /S C U S S E P THE PLA N W /TH OTHER ASURA SO j PO R THE M OM ENT, THE PE V A S

L E A P E R S , SH A M BA RA , A R/SH TA N EM /, PAULOMA A N P TH E A SU R A S M A PEA CONTRACT
A N P HALAHEHA. O F PR /E N PSH /P.
 a m a r chitra katha
THEV WENT TOGETHER TO\
THE OCEAN OF M /L*.

10
 TH E CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN
'n—f -
T H E M .A JE S T /C M O U N T M A N P A R A
A P O R N E P W /TH C L O U P - T O P P E P
P EA H S E X T EN P EP E LE V E N
TH O U SA N D ^ O U A N A S A B O V E TH E
G RO U N D A N P W AS A S P E E P L W
E M B E P P E P /N T H E E A R T H .

IN PRA /IM P T H E P E V A S A LO N G W /TH B A L I ..A M P B E G A N TO C A R R </ /T TO W A R P S T H E

A M P T H E A S U R A S O P R O O T EP M O U N T O C EA N . A LTH O U G H T H E H W E R E V ER ty S T R O N G 3
M A N PA RA - • THEW P A M T E P A M P G A S P E P U M P ER IT S W E/GHT.
 a m a r c hit ra katha
IN TH E EN D , U N A B LE 7V HOLD O U T A N Y
LO N G ER , T H EY P R O P P E D T H E M OUN TAIN
AN D A L A R G E N U M B ER O F P E V A S A N D
A SU R A S W ER E C R U SH ED U N D ER IT .
mmm

12
 THE CHURNING OF THE OCEAN

THEN L O R P V/SH N U E F F O R T L E S S L Y ...A N P P L A C E P /T O N T H E V/SHNU H IM S E L F T H EN

R A /S E P T H E M OUNTA/N M T H O N E BACH O F G A R U PA . M O U N T EP S A R U P A A N P
H A N D ... P R O C E E P E P TO W A R P S
T H E O C EA N O F M IL * .

ON REA CH IN G T H E R E , G A R U P A
G EN TLY P LA C E P T H E MOUNTAIN ... AND THEN FLEW AWAY.
IN TH E O CEA N ... LORD V/SHNU REMAINED BEHIND.

TH EN TH E P E V A S A N P A S U R A S W EN T TO S O V A SU rt/ W EN T W /TH TH EM A N P A LLO W EP

VASUH/, T H E H /N G O F T H E S N A H E S . TH EM TV B /N P H/M RO U N P M O U N T M A N P A R P .

13
 a m a r chitra katha

IN PR A A N P T H E P E V A S TH EM P R O C E E D E D
TO W A R P S T H E H E A D O R V A SU H I.

IN PRA m s J U S T GO/N 6 TO G R A SP VASUHI’S IN PRA H /P A S M IL E A M P Q U /E T U j W EN T W /TH

H EA P TO B E G IN T H E CH U RN IN G W H EN — T H E P E V A S TO H O LD V A SU H /’S TA/L / N S T E A P .
THE CHURNING OF THE OCEAN

O N C E A G A /N V/SH N U C A M E TO TH EIR
A /P . A S S U M IN G T H E F O R M O F
A 3 /SA N T /C T O R T O /S E , A L M O S T
A H U G E /S L A N P , V /SH N U P IV E P
T H E B O T T O M O F T H E O C E A N ...

TH RO U GH T H E G R A C E O F LO R P V/SH N U, TH E
P EV A S A N P T H E A S U R A S A N P VA SU H / F E L T
A R E N E W E D S T R E N G T H W/TH/N THEM A N P THEW
CH U RN ED F A S T E R A N P F A S T E R , j --------------------

15
 a m a r chitra katha
THEN F/RE ANP SMOHE /SSU EP FROM THESE F /E Z y PU FFS O F SM OHE ENGULFED THE
THE THOUSAND MOUTHS OF VASUHI. ASUPAS WHO W ERE NEAP THE HOOPS O F THE
SN A K E.

LOOK! A LL OUR & R E A T TH E P EV A S TOO W ERE A FFEC TED

LE A D E R S PAULOMA, * ALEVA, BH TH E F U M E S , B U T
ILVALA SO PALE ANP FAINT* V/SHNU S E N T POW N
THEW LOOK LIKE S H R IV ELLE P COOL/N6 SH O W ER S
S H R U B S BURNT POWN TO R E V IV E T H EM .
BH A F O R E S T F IR E ♦

STILL THE PEVAS ANP ASUPAS CONTINUED THEN THERE A RO SE A FEARFU L PO ISO N . IT
THEIP TASH ANP A S THEy CH U PN EP, SPR EA D L/H E A TH/C/1 PALL OVER THE EARTH.
A WHOLE HOST O F FIS H E S j SN A H ESs
WHALES W ERE CH U PN EP U P TOO.
 THE CHURNING OF THE OCEAN

INSTANTLY SHIVA H EEPEP THEIR CALL. .H E SW A LLO W EP /T A N P H E L P IT IN H IS TH R O A T.

GATHERING UP ALL THE POISON IN
THE PALM O F H IS H A N P:

T H E FO /S O N M A P E H /S T H R O A T B L U E A N P B E C A M E
A N O R N A M EN T O F SH /V A . FR O M T H A T T IM E O N H E
H E H A S B E E N H N OW N A S N /LA M A N T H A .

WE SALUTE yOU,
0 NILAKANTHA; FOR
RESPONPtNG TO OUR
P R A T ER »

17
T H E D E V A S A N D A S U R A S R E S U M E D T H E IR C H U R N IN G . B E F O R E LO N G T H E R E
A R O S E FR O M T H E O C E A N S U R A B H f, T H E D IV IN E COW , U C H C H H A ISH R A V A , T H E
H O R S E W H /TE A S T H E M O O N A N D A lR A V A T A 9 T H E W H IT E E L E P H A N T W ITH
F O U R T U S K S '.T H E V W E R E F O L L O W E D B V A B E V ij O F B E A U T IF U L A P S A R A S .
L A T E R E M E R G E D T H E C E L E S T I A L P A R I J A T A T R E E A N D V A R UN! T H E
G O D D E S S O F W IN E , R O L L I N G H E R I N T O X I C A T I N G E V E S .

18
 THE CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN

H E R B E A U T Y W AS S U C H A S 7 0 S T / R GANGA A N P O TH ER H O LY R IV E R S BROUGHT
THE M/NPS O F T H E P EV A S A/VP A S U R A S . W ATER IN G O LPEN JA R S F O R H E R A B LU T IO N S .
A LL O F TH EM W E R E A /V X /O U S TO B E
O F S E R V IC E TO H E R , f
 a m a r chitra katha
T H E C L O U P S R A /N ED M U S / C FR O M
A V A R /ET V O F //V S T R U M E N T S .

IN TH E EN D , S H E C H O S E S H E P LA C E P TH E B EA U T/FU L V ISH N U , LO R P O F TH E T H R EE
L O R P V/SH N U , W HO IS V A IJA V A N T! G A R LA N P ROUNP W O RLD S, A C C EP T ED H E R .
P E R F E C T /N E V E R Y W AV. H IS N EC H . I-----------------------
TH E CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN
 a m a r chitra katha
VISHNU A T ONCB A SSU M ED M EA N W H ILE, TH E A S U R ’A S N A P B EG U N
TH E BEW ITCH IN G FO RM Q U A R R ELLIN G AM ON G T H E M S E LV E S
O F MOH/N/, T H E O V ER T H E J A R O F N EC T A R .
en c h a n t r ess.

IN TO X IC A TED W /TH H E R 3 E A L / T % T H E WHY PON’ T WE A S K

A SU R A S B EG A N TO F O L L O W H E R . H E R TO D IS T R IB U T E
TH E N EC TA R TO
TH E CHURNING OF THE OCEAN
 a m a r chitra katha

MOHIN/ F / R S T G A V E T H E A E C T 4 R TO A L L T H E P E V A S TO P R / m - -
 TH E CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN

B U T O N E O F T H E A S U R A S W H O SE S O R A H U A S S U M E P T H E F O R M O F P E I/A
NAME W AS R A H U , B E C A M E SU SP IC IO U S. A M P Q U /E T L V C R O S S E P O V E R . (— c—

S H E H A S NO f
v
IN TEN TIO N O F
S IV /N G U S T H E
N ECTA R]

FO R T U N A T ELY , SU R Y A , t h e s u m , a m p TH E N EC T A R H A P B A R E L Y R E A C H E P R A H U ’S
S O M A , T H E M O O M , W E R E W A TC H FU L . TH R O A T. IN S T A N T L Y V ISH N U H U R L E P H /S
CH A H RA A T H IM TV C U T O F F T H E
W E LL-A P O R N E P H E A P O F T H E A S U R A .

A S TH E H U G E H E A P L E S S TRU N K O F T H E AN P TH E S E V E R E P H EA P O F T H E A SU R A
A SU R A F E L L POWM, /T C A U S E P T H E E A R T H R O S E TO T H E S H Y R O A R /N S H O R R IB L Y .
TO Q U A KE A N P T H E M O UN TA/N S TO R U M B LE.

TO T H IS P A Y T H E R E IS A DEADLY
FE U P B ET W EEN TH E H EA P O F
RA H U A N P T H E S U M A M P T H E
M OOM A N P H E SW A LLO W S THEM
U P A T R E S U L A R IN T E R V A L S ,
C A U S IN G E C L / F S E S .
 a m a r chitra katha

T H E Y B E G A N TO S C R E A M A N P M A K E A M /P G R E A T T U M U LT A N P E X C IT E M E N T I
A T E R R /A /C P /N . j--------------------------- M A N Y M O R E O F T H E (S O P S Q U IC K L Y
P A R T O O K O A T H E N E C T A R W H/CH T H E Y
S O G R E A T L Y P E S IR E P A N P T H E Y B E C A M E
IM M O R TA L.

M EA N W H /LE T H E A S U R A S H A P B E E N TH EN , ON T H E S H O R E S O F T H E O C EA N ,
A R M /N G T H E M S E L V E S W ITH V A R IO U S B EG A N T H E G R E A T B A T T L E B ET W EE N
W E A P O N S . I----------!--------------------------- TH E P E V A S A N P T H E A S U R A S .
 TH E CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN

SH A R P P O /N TEP J A V E L IN S A N P L A N C E S T H E A S U R A S P / E P IN L A R G E ' N U M B E R S
W E R E H U R L E P A T T H E A S U jR A S . |--------- T H E/R H E A P S A P O R N E P W /TH B R IG H T
G O L P F E L L ON T H E F IE L D O F B A T T L E .

1----- %

KILL*
ATTACK! HILL f

A T T H E H E IG H T O F T H IS A S SOON A S HE THOUGHT O F IT,

F IE R C E B A T T L E , V ISH N U H IS OWN INCOMPARABLE PISC U S,
E N T E R E D T H E F IE L P . THE SHINING SU P4R SH A N A
/ T H E Y SEEM CHAHRA, CAME THROUGH THE
EVENLY MATCHEP. S H Y . |----------------------------------------
^ THE PEVAS NEED
IV H E L P .;

27
 o m a r chitra katha
V/SHMU A / M E P T H E SU O H A R & H A N A A T
TH E A S U R A S ' /T F L E W E V E *< JW H E & E
P EST & O W H G T H O U SA M & S O F A S U R A S .

28
 TH E CHURNING OF TH E OCEAN

AGA/H T H E P/V /N E V/SH M U C A M E TO T H E T H E A Q U F A S W E F E P E F E A T E D . THEW C O U LP

A /0 O F T H E P E V A S . SH O O T /N 3 G O L P E N - F / G H T B A C H N O M O F E . S H F IEM /M G LO U P L.%
H E A P E P A F F O W S A T T H E F A L L IN G S O M E O F T H EM E N T E R E P T H E B O W E L S O F
M O U H TA /H S, H E F E P U C E P TH EM TO P O S T . T H E E A F T H , W H ILE ...
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RESEARCH FROM PRIMARY SOURCES. IS DECIDED, A SCRIPTWRITER IS BE APPROVED BEFORE THE COMIC IS
ASSIGNED THE TASK. CREATED, COMPLETE WITH
COMMENTARY PANELS AND
DIALOGUES.

THIS PROCESS IS FOLLOWED FOR ALL A STRINGENT EDITORIAL POLICY IS THE DIALOGUES AND THOUGHTS OF
TITLES. FROM HISTORY AND MYTHO­ ESSENTIAL TO ESTABLISH QUALITY EACH CHARACTER REFLECT THEIR
LOGY, TO LEGEND AND BIOGRAPHY. CONTROL. PERSONALITY, AGE AND STATUS.
THE STORY IS SCRIPTED IN 30-32 PAGES, EACH WITH THE ARTIST RECEIVES THE SCRIPT WITH SEVERAL BOOKS
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THE STORY FORWARD.

NOW THE SCRIPT-WRITER MUST ADD DETAILED VISUAL WITH DRAMATIC DETAIL AND VIVID IMAGINATION, THE
NOTES FOR THE ARTIST FOR EACH PANEL. ARTIST BRINGS THE CHARACTERS TO LIFE ON PAPER.

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CORRECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT

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 Illustrated Classics From India

The Churning of the Ocean

The story of how the devas discovered divine nectar and gained immortality is a popular legend that is
dramatic as well as enthralling.

It was an ocean of milk that was churned by the devas and asuras to yield the celestial nectar, using the
great mountain Mandara as the churning rod. The serpent Vasuki volunteered to be the cord. Lord Vishnu
assumed the form of a tortoise and served as a pivot for Mandara to be whirled around on.

It took the benevolence of all the great deities to execute this complex task. Vishnu sent down cooling
showers to abate the fiery smoke from Vasuki's mouth and Shiva consumed the fearful poison that arose
from the waters. The legendary Airavata, Surabhi and Uchchhaishrava arose from the churning waters, as did
many beautiful apsaras and goddesses.

This popular tale is found, with minor variations, in the Puranas as well as in the two epics. Our version of
this great story is derived mainly from the Bhagawat Purana and the Mahabharata.

Editor: Anant Pai

Script: Toni Patel Illustrations: Dilip Kadam Cover: Dilip Kadam

Related Titles
Rama • Krishna • Tales of Shiva • Tales of Narada
Tales of Vishnu • Devotees of Vishnu
Dasha Avatar • Bhagawat Purana (9 volumes)

ISBN 8 1-7 50 8- 1 92 - 9

9 788175 081925
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