The Ocean of Milk
Many degree-holding Hindus laugh at Hindu concepts and figures, let alone others. For example, the ocean of milk [क्षीर समुद्र ক্ষীর সমুদ্র], or the foolish story of the churning of the milky ocean using a snake and a mountain. They laugh seeing the picture of Vishnu sleeping on a python [ananta-shayana, âdi-shesha আদিশেষ आदिशेषः] on that ocean.
Indeed. What do Hindus mean by ocean of milk or churning it? How can God Vishnu sleep on a huge coiled cobra? The centre of the coil is hollow and he will fall into the ocean. And a lotus from his navel? God Brahmâ! And why should anyone sleep on an ocean? Terrific.
So what is all this about?
1. Two phases of creation
Churning the milky ocean and the âdishesha [आदिशेषः] posture are two phases of creation. Hindu scientists knew very well that cows produce milk and that a milk ocean is impossible. But they knew that the ocean of matter is possible. The Law of Conservation of Mass says that matter can never be created or destroyed, but transformed. The entire universe is one continuous ocean of matter. This matter is somewhere dense [called stars and planets] somewhere not dense [called space]. Between you and the moon there is no “empty space” but thin invisible matter. The ocean of milk is the ocean of matter. Why milk? By churning milk you produce butter. Butter produces ghee [clarified butter]. Milk is pure energy, curds is energy and Ghee is tremendous energy. So energy is hidden in milk. Or, milk and ghee are inter-convertible forms. Scientists tell you that what you call “solid” is not solid. It’s all atoms. The same milk can appear as liquid or solid. But it is all just energy, shakti. Matter is energy.
2. Creation Phase
What is creation? Creation means name and form [नाम-रूप ]. You give some names to some shapes, which are all nothing but atoms. In the story of the churning of the ocean, we read that gods and demons churned the milk ocean. They used the mountain and the cobra on Shiva’s neck to churn. Since the mountain was drowning, Vishnu as tortoise held the mountain from falling. Why are they churning? To bring out “butter”. The snake is Time, Kâla. Name and form take shape out of matter in time, and dissolve in time. The same snake or kâla swallows everything, all names and forms, like a huge greedy black hole and converts them into matter. In time all come out, in time all go back. Please remember, Shiva’s neck is the churning mountain’s neck. The mountain is the unending Yupa or pillar of Light, called linga or symbol. Below is Vishnu as tortoise.
3. Dissolution Phase
Creation is complete. The same snake which was used for churning the milky ocean is now coiled. It has swallowed all names and forms. Vishnu has given up the Tortoise form and is relaxing in this form. Vishnu, the Preserver, rests on Kâla or Shiva. In this picture of âdishesha, there are three, Pralaya, sthiti and srishti [प्रलय, सृष्टि, स्थिति] in one frame—that is the most scientific picture you see. Shiva, Vishnu and Brahmâ together. From that static state of dissolution, once again comes out Brahmâ, as if from the navel. Like the Black hole picture of NASA.
Finally, where is all the consolidated energy in dissolution? Mother Lakshmi sits at the feet of Vishnu and serves Him.
This is the beauty of Hinduism. Completely scientific. “Hindu” is geographical prefix, “sanâtana” is time-prefix. The actual name is just “Dharma”. Dharma has undergone millions of years of scrutiny and is for different levels of understanding.
Jai Maa Sarada
By Swami Sunirmalananda ji
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