Story Time

Long ago, there was a great war between the Asuras (demons) and the Devas (gods). The Devas were routed in the war and they went to Lord Brahma to seek his help. Brahma told them to churn the ocean, as a result of which they would be able to obtain Amrit (nectar) which would make them immortal and all powerful. After consuming it, they would be able to defeat the Asuras. Churning the ocean was a very big job and so the Devas sought the help of the Asuras. The king of the serpents, Vasuki, was to become the rope, while a hill named Mandrachal offered to become the pivot. Lord Vishnu, in the form of a tortoise, became the base and the churning process began.

The Devas held the tail of Vasuki and the Asuras held the head. Various things came out, during this churning of the ocean. There was a pot of Vish (poison) which created havoc in all the three worlds. Lord Shiva drank the poison to save the world, but he did not let the poison go beyond his neck which became blue in color. That is why Lord Shiva is also called 'Neelkant' ("One with a blue neck").

At last Dhanvantri came out with a pot of Amrit and immediately, there was a mad scramble for it among the Devas and the Asuras. Seeing this, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini (a beautiful dancer) who offered her services in distributing the Amrit equally to both the Asuras and Devas. She made both of them sit in two different rows but she gave the Amrit to the Devas only.

Towards the end, one of the Asuras saw through her trick. He went and sat among the Devas and drank the Amrit. The moment Chandra (Moon) and Surya (Sun), who were sitting beside him, saw that he was an Asura, they informed Mohini. Lord Vishnu came in his real form and let out the Sudarshan Chakra (wheel) at the Asura. The Asura's neck was separated from his body, but he did not die, as he had drunk the Amrit. His head was called 'Rahu' and his torso 'Ketu'. According to legend, Rahu and Ketu swallowed the moon and sun to have their revenge, thereby causing an eclipse.