As per research, we can say that Aryans knew more about science, especially cosmology, than any other ancient civilization as they had knowledge of Vedas. The oldest books in the world, known as the Vedas and Puranas, contain valuable insights. Among them, the Vishnu Purana is one of the most famous. While researching these topics, one that caught my mind was the very famous tale known as the Samudra Manthan from the Vishnu Purana. The churning of the ocean is a popular tale in Hinduism. This process, we can say, is similar to the physics concept of churning, focusing more on the concept of mixing and extraction. In this blog, I’ll talk about how Samudra Manthan and the physics concept are similar.
The Mythological Story of Samudra Manthan
Samudra Manthan is one of the most significant stories in Hindu mythology. In this incident, it yielded numerous valuables, precious goddesses, and angels. Samudra Manthan is also known as Amrit Manthan, as gods and demons churned the ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, known as Amrit. Here, Samudra means ocean, and Manthan means churning.
The story of Samudra Manthan begins with the thunder god Indra riding his Airavat when he encounters Rishi Durvasa. Rishi Durvasa presented him with a garland he had received from a nymph. Indra placed the garland on the head of his elephant, Airavat. However, Airavat promptly discarded the garland onto the ground. Witnessing this, Rishi Durvasa became enraged, stating that the garland was not a mere trinket but rather an embodiment of fortune and riches (Shri). Indra, driven by pride, had shown disrespect towards his gift. In response, Rishi Durvasa cursed all the gods, including Indra, decreeing that they would lose their energy, fortune, and strength.
Demons defeats Gods
As the gods lost their powers, they began losing all battles against the asuras. The asura (demon) Bali emerged victorious in every conflict against the devas (gods), gaining control over the universe. Faced with this dire situation, the gods sought help from Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu advised them to obtain the elixir of immortality, the sole remedy to regain their powers. This elixir lay at the bottom of the Ksheer Sagar, also known as the Milky Ocean. However, lacking the strength to churn the ocean themselves, the gods had no choice but to form an alliance with the asuras. They proposed that they would share the nectar of immortality. Churning the ocean
Now they needed a big enough rod and rope to churn the Milky Ocean. Mount Mandara was used as the rod, and the Snake god Vasuki was used as the rope. Lord Vishnu took the form of a turtle and carried Mount Mandara on his back to make the churning process easier.
Things that emerged from the ocean
As they said during Samudra Manthan 14 gems came out of it which are:
- Halahala (Poison)
- Horse
- Elephant
- Kaustubh mani
- Kamdhenu (Cow)
- Kalpavriksha (Tree that fulfill any wishes if you imagine the wish under it)
- Goddess Laxmi
- Apsara Rambha
- Parijit Flower
- Varuni Devi
- Conch
- Moon
- Danvantari Vaidya
- Amrit (Nector of immortality)
The Churning Process and Physics Principles
As I mentioned before, Hindus knew more about cosmology than other ancient cultures. The German philosopher Max Müller said that Greeks distorted Hindu stories, and the Chinese learned astrology from Hindus.
Whether you believe in this or not, whether Hindus knew about science or not, nothing in the past can be related to more than hymns of the Rig Veda.
George, the son of Charles Darwin, suggested that when a big collision happened, a big chunk of the earth was spurned off, which is known as the moon. And this moon will fit into the Pacific Ocean easily as it happened because of a collision. Hindu mythology suggested a long time ago that the moon emerged from the sea.
Also, the churning process in Samudra Manthan involves the use of a massive serpent called Vasuki, which acts as the churning rope. The Devas and Asuras hold each end of the serpent and start pulling it back and forth, causing the ocean to churn.
From a physics perspective, this churning process can be related to the concept of mechanical work and energy transfer. The pulling and twisting of the serpent represents the application of force, which results in the conversion of mechanical energy into other forms of energy.
Moreover, the churning process can also be seen as an example of rotational motion, where the serpent acts as a lever or a rotating body. This motion generates centrifugal and centripetal forces, leading to the separation of different substances in the ocean.
The Role of Energy in Samudra Manthan
Energy plays a crucial role in the churning process of Samudra Manthan. As the Devas and Asuras continue to churn the ocean, various energies are involved, including kinetic energy, potential energy, and thermal energy.
The continuous exertion of force by both sides creates kinetic energy, which is responsible for the movement and stirring of the ocean. Additionally, the potential energy of the ocean is transformed into kinetic energy, as the churning process releases stored energy.
Furthermore, the friction generated during the churning process leads to the production of thermal energy, causing the temperature of the ocean to rise. This increase in temperature has significant implications for the substances extracted from the ocean during the churning process.
The Concept of Equilibrium in Churning
The churning process in Samudra Manthan involves finding a state of equilibrium between opposing forces. The Devas and Asuras, representing different cosmic powers, must work together to maintain the balance and prevent the serpent from slipping away or causing excessive turbulence in the ocean.
This concept of equilibrium is closely related to Newton’s laws of motion, particularly the third law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the churning process, the forces applied by the Devas and Asuras on the serpent create a balanced system where the opposing forces cancel each other out.
The Scientific Interpretation of Nectar and Poison
In the mythological story of Samudra Manthan, the churning process results in the extraction of various substances from the ocean, including the highly coveted Nectar of Life (Amrita) and the deadly poison known as Halahala.
From a scientific standpoint, the Nectar of Life can be interpreted as a metaphor for the positive outcomes or benefits that can be derived from challenging and transformative processes. It represents the rewards of perseverance, knowledge, and spiritual growth.
On the other hand, the poison symbolizes the negative consequences or challenges that may arise during such processes. It serves as a reminder that not all outcomes may be desirable, and one must be cautious and discerning in their actions.
Overall, the correlation between the mythological story of Samudra Manthan and physics principles highlights the timeless nature of certain scientific concepts and their ability to transcend cultural and historical boundaries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the story of Samudra Manthan from Hindu mythology teaches us important lessons that connect with ideas in physics and science. Imagine a big ocean being stirred like a giant pot of soup. This story helps us understand things like how work is done to move things, how energy is passed around, how things spin, and how balance is important. It’s like when you’re on a seesaw with a friend. You both push and pull to keep it balanced. That’s like the forces pushing and pulling in the story.
When they churned the ocean, they got two things: nectar, which is like the good stuff, and poison, which is harmful. This shows us that sometimes when we face big challenges, we can also find good things along the way, but we also need to watch out for the bad.
By looking at how ancient stories connect with what we know now, we see that there’s wisdom in those old tales that still makes sense today. The story of Samudra Manthan reminds us that learning about the world and ourselves is a journey that’s always ongoing, and it’s important to understand how everything is connected.
