Nara-Narayana and the War That Followed Samudra Manthan - After The Amrit: The Battle Between Devas and Danavas
Everybody who know Hindu scriptures know the story of
Samudra Manthan, the churning of ocean, where Devas and Danavas came together
to get amrit, the nectar of immortality. When the pot of amrit came out, both
side wanted it, so Bhagavan Vishnu took the form of Mohini, a woman of such
beauty that even the demons got confused and forgot their sense. Mohini
distributed the amrit only to Devas, and one danava named Rahu disguised
himself among gods to drink it too. Surya and Chandra saw him and told Mohini,
who cut his head before the nectar go past his throat. Head became immortal,
that is why we call it Rahu, and body became Ketu.
The Battle Begins
Chapter 17 of the Astika Parva of Adi Parva of Mahabharata narrates as to what happened after the Mohini Avatar tricked the demons.
This was not end of story, this was beginning of a big war. Danavas got very angry that they were cheated of nectar which was equally their right since they also helped in churning. They rose against Devas on same shore where ocean, once salty, had turned milky because of manthan. Bhagavan Vishnu then left his Mohini form and take the form of two sages, Nara and Narayana, to fight in this war. Nara held his bow and Narayana brought his Sudarshana Chakra. Weapons like spears, javelins, clubs, discuses' were thrown from both side, and thousands of danavas and devas got killed or wounded, some lost limbs, some lost head. The chakra descended everywhere and destroyed Diti and Dhanu’s progeny in thousands. When danavas threw whole mountains with trees on devas, Nara used his golden arrows to break the mountains into dust before they can fall.
The arrows of Nara and the Sudarshana Chakra of Narayana finally overpowered the demons who fled.
Symbolism in the Story
The amrit represent the ultimate truth or moksha which only comes to those who are pure and follow right path, not because of force or cheating. Mohini avatar teach us that even illusion (maya) can be used by the divine to protect dharma when needed. Sudarshana Chakra of Narayana is symbol of time and dharma cutting down all evil, and bow of Nara show the human effort that must go together with divine grace. Together Nara-Narayana teach that devotion and action, gyana and karma, both are needed for victory over adharma.