Mohini avatar represents the fruit of our efforts. Mohini is Karma Pala Dhata or the one who gives the fruit of our efforts. In a similar way, the word “Vidhata” means the one who gives the fruit of our efforts.

Mohini avatar is also Gyana Pala Dhata. Atma Gyana (realization of self) leads to freedom from misery and worldly burden. It is Bhagawan himself who gives the power to Atma Gyana to lead us to moksha. He will remove all obstacles and give us complete mangalam (Mangalam Param). Thus Mohini avatar more aptly represents Gyana Pala Dhata in Samudra Manthanam.

Garuda was holding the elephant and tortoise in his legs. When he sat on the branch of a huge tree, one branch broke. Garuda swooped down and plucked the branch mid-air so that it does not cause any disturbance. The Valakhilya rishis were doing Tapas hanging upside down. They were impressed by the sight of Garuda carrying an elephant, a tortoise and a huge branch. They called him “Garuda,” bearer of a heavy weight.

Kashyapa Maharishi was performing a Putrakamekshti Yajna with the help of Valakhilya Rishis. The Rishis were thumb-sized. For the Yajna they carried the nerve of one leaf with a lot of effort. At the same time, Indra (son of Kashyapa Maharishi through Aditi) was also helping in carrying provisions for the Yajna. He jumped above the heads of the tiny rishis and made fun of their stature. The enraged rishis cursed that someone stronger than Indra will take birth. Kashyapa Maharishi pacified them and sought their forgiveness. The rishis said that he will take birth, but as a king of birds and as your own son. Garuda was later born as the son of Kashyapa Maharishi and Vinata. Thus Indra and Garuda are brothers (sons of Kashyapa Maahrishi through different mothers).

Garuda engaged Devas in a fight so that he can take back Amrut. In the fight between the Devas and Garuda, Devas used various kind of weapons. But Garuda used his own body parts only, like the beak, wings and claws. He even almost killed Vishwakarma (Boumanah) who was guarding Amrut.

After a tremendous fight, Garuda overcame Devas and all obstacles and took the Amrut. He was undisturbed by the fight and appeared tireless. Even though Garuda took the Amrut, he did not drink it himself. Pleased by this selfless act, Vishnu granted a boon. Garuda sought immortality without the need for Amrut. He also asked to be above Vishnu all the time. Garuda in turn also told Vishnu that he can grant Vishnu a boon. Vishnu asked that Garuda be his Vahan. To make sure there is no contradiction between these two boons, Vishnu raised Garuda in his Dwaja. That is why we see Garudadwaja. The name Garudadwaja is also present in Vishnu Sahasranamam. This proves how Vishnu is wisdom personified. He made sure that this interaction with Garuda was win-win. He made sure both boons work and Garuda did not lose.

Garuda took away the Amrut from Devas. Indra chased Garuda and launched his Vajrayudha. Garuda immediately bowed to Maharishi Dadichi who had granted Vajrayudha to Indra. He also bowed down to Indra. He offered a feather from his body as a target for Vajrayudha as the ayudha cannot go waste without hitting a target. He also told Indra that he is indestructible, yet he bows down and offers a feather; and that the feather alone can bear all the weight of this world. Indra and Garuda became friends. Indra granted a boon to Garuda that all snakes in the world will become food for Garuda.

The only way Garuda could free his mother and himself from slavery was by giving the Amrut to the snakes. Indra warned Garuda that it is not wise as the snakes had become evil. Garuda promised Indra that he can take away the Amrut once his mother Vinata had been liberated from slavery. Accordingly, Garuda took the Amrut and gave it to his snake-brothers. As promised by them, Vinata (and Garuda too) were released from slavery. Before the snakes could drink the Amrut, Garuda advised them to complete the daily rituals. When the snakes went for their bath, Indra swooped down as planned and took away the Amrut. When the snakes returned, they realized they have lost the Amrut. In desperation, they tried licking the Dharba mat on which small drops of Amrut may have fallen. When they were licking the mat, a blade of Dharba grass split their tongue.

Seshanaag is the name of the first son of Kadru and Kashyapa Maharishi. Second is Vasuki. Other sons were Takshaka, Elapatra, Kaliya, Airavata (a snake also) etc. Although Seshanaag was also cursed by Kadru, he did extra-ordinary Tapas in places like the Himalayas, Badri, Gokarna hills and Pushkar. Brahma (who was also the grand father of Seshanaag) granted him a boon. Seshanaag requested that he be disassociated from his evil brothers; and that he should always be thinking of Dharma. Brahma granted these boons and also requested Seshanaag to hold Bhoodevi who had been shaken by the evil deeds of his brothers.

The assembly of snakes (sons of Kadru) were discussing how the Sarpa Yajna of Janamejaya can be stopped. Vasuki presided over the assembly and discarded all crooked suggestions of the snakes. Vasuki mentioned that only the compassion of their father Kashyapa Maharishi can save them. One of the brothers Elapatra then mentioned that for those affected by fate, only surrendering to fate can help. He also mentioned that he had overheard Brahma when Kadru cursed the snake brothers. Brahma had told Devas that the curse is pre-ordained. Dharmic snakes will survive and others will perish. Rishi Jaratkaru will marry the sister of Vasuki and he alone can put a stop to the snakes being killed. Elapatra then requested Vasuki to give his sister in alms to Rishi Jaratkaru. Vasuki also heard this from Brahma after Samudra Manthanam where Vasuki served as the rope.

Jara means wasting. Karu means to do. Jaratkaru Rishi was massive but he reduced his weight through tapas. Similarly, Vasuki’s sister was also perhaps large and reduced her weight. Jaratkaru also means someone who realises that this mortal human body is eventually a waste.

King Parikshit shot a deer in a hunt. The deer escaped. Pursuing the deer, Parikshit came across Rishi Shamika who was in mouna tapas. Parikshit asked him if he had seen the deer. Upset that the Rishi was ignoring him, Parikshit threw a dead snake around the Rishi’s neck. Krshah, a friend of Shamika Rishi’s son Shringi, instigated Shringi that Parikshit has insulted his father. Shringi, in rage, cursed that Pariskhit will be bitten to death by a snake within seven days. Shamika Rishi regretted the curse. He told his son that Parikshit is a Dharmic king who has no equal. With his death, the Rishis as well as the world at large would be worse off. He advised his son that anger is bad and he should change his food habits to attain calmness. He also advised him to do tapas to gain the qualifications required to pursue knowledge.

When Parikshit Maharaja learnt of the curse, his advisors built a house on a single pillar as a safe place to protect the King. They thought this would avoid him being bitten by the snake. All expert doctors were assembled in the house.