The legend of Vishnu
Kûrma the tortoise, her story in Hindu mythology

Kûrma is one of Vishnu's avatars, a form he takes to interact directly with the physical world.

The Hindu trinity comprises three gods who symbolize the aspects essential to the creation of the world. These gods are Brahma, the creative power, Vishnu the binding power and Shiva the destructive power (in the idea of transformation).

Vishnu, as the connecting force, is the Center, the Source. He is the power that enables the existence and continuity of all things and all life. He is the power that holds the universe together and guarantees the stability of all worlds.

He is often depicted sleeping on a snake named Shesha (which means Vestige, i.e. what's left of the old world. The soil, the foundation for continuity and the creation of a new world), but he's not sleeping, he's dreaming. And it's in this state that he conceives new worlds.

The descent of Kûrma

At the beginning of the universe, following a great flood, the most precious things, including Amrita (the immortality liquor), were lost at the bottom of a gigantic ocean of milk.

The Deva (gods) and the Asura (demons), who were then vying for power over the world order and therefore over the buried treasures, had to join forces under the orders of Vishnu to churn up the ocean of milk so that the Amrita could rise to the surface and be recovered.

To do this, they used the great serpent Vestige as a rope and the Mandara mountain (Mount Meru) as a handle, but to achieve their goal without the mountain falling, Vishnu had to intervene in the form of a turtleKûrma) and descend to the depths of the sea to serve as a support, a pedestal for the mountain.

Thus, the transformation of the ocean of milk could take place efficiently and intelligently, thanks to Kûrma who provided the necessary stability and the movements of Mount Meru set in motion by the Deva and Asura with the help of the Vestige serpent.

And it was in this alliance that the precious treasures of Amrita and kalakuta (poison) surfaced.
If Amrita offered the Deva immortality, kalakuta, as the universe-destroying poison, offered the Deva the most important awareness essential to world equilibrium. In other words, the dangers of the ego.

Indeed, their quest for immortality at all costs, their insatiable desire to acquire the all-powerful power to master the world, generated the threat of the universe's destruction, even though they were supposed to be the guarantors of its stability. And so, they became aware of their shadow selves and the dangers of ignoring them.

Shaken by this teaching, they asked Shiva for help, and he sucked up the poison without swallowing it. All night long, the Deva sang and danced to help Shiva stay awake, so that he could keep the poison in his throat without swallowing it and save the Universe.

In the morning, the poison transformed and , to remind everyone of the dangers of listening only to one's pride, Shiva turned completely blue.

The Deva could begin to watch over the preservation of the world order without expectation of recognition, personal victories, expectations or glory.

Kûrma also means "work", for as the foundation, it is the necessary foundation, the basis of all Creation's work.

The Mârkandey Purâna (a sacred Hindu text) describes the Indian continent as resting permanently on the back of the giant turtle that is Vishnu.

The meaning of history

What I understand from this myth is that the ocean represents our inner and unconscious world, filled with our emotions, beliefs, history and feelings. The treasures buried at the bottom of this ocean are our talents, our potential, our inner wealth. Amrita is the Self, our true Being. The poison is the ego, our self, which often acts unconsciously, repeating destructive patterns, believing itself to be the only one in existence and desiring full power, control and omnipotence.

To churn the ocean of milk is, in the action of effort, to bring to the surface that which is hidden within us. Kûrma represents the vital importance of having a solid foundation for this undertaking, roots that enable us to stand firm and not be submerged by the waves.

When the treasures and poisons within us are uncovered, we can realize that there is both light and shadow in ourselves and everything else. We can then realize that if we only care about the light, the shadow can take over in destructive ways for ourselves, for those around us and, as everything is interconnected, for our world.

Shiva's struggle not to lose heart and fall asleep in order to avoid swallowing the poison shows us that the transformation of our shadows takes perseverance, patience and effort.

This story shows how important it is to start by working on oneself, as this is the only way to bring more balance, justice and enchantment into the world.
Aurore

Sources :

- Myths and Gods of India, Alain Daniélou. Ed. Champs
- The symbol of the snake in Hinduism indeenfrance.com
- http://www.yoganova.fr/autopsie-symbolique-dune-posture-ii-bhujangasana-le-cobra-qui-se-cabre-en-kurma-meru/