Saturday, December 21, 2019

Ratnas

All kinds of herbs were cast into the ocean and fourteen Ratnas (gems or treasures) were produced from it and were divided between the Asuras and the Devas. Though usually the Ratnas are enumerated as 14, the list in the scriptures ranges from 9 to 14 Ratnas. Most lists include: According to the quality of the treasures produced, they were accepted by Shiva (because of consuming the poison), Vishnu, Maha Rishi's (for Kamadhenu or Surabhi), which was given by Vishnu, the Devas and the Asuras. 

There were three categories of Goddesses which emerged from the ocean;
Lakshmi: the Devi of Fortune and Wealth, who accepted Vishnu as Her eternal consort.
https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/VishnuLaxmiJesusAllahYogaAtheist
Apsaras: various divine nymphs like Rambha, Menaka, Punjisthala etc., who chose the Gandharvas as their companions.
https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Sara
Varuni: taken - somewhat reluctantly (she appeared dishevelled and argumentative) - by the Asuras.

Likewise, three types of supernatural animals appeared:
Kamadhenu or Surabhi (Sanskrit: kāmadhuk): the wish-granting cow, taken by Brahma and given to the sages so that the ghee from her milk could be used for Yajna and similar rituals.
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Airavata and several other elephants, taken by Indra.

Three valuables were also produced:
Kaustubha: the most valuable ratnam (divine jewel) in the world, worn by Vishnu.
http://laxmivishnu.blogspot.com/search/label/Kaustubha
Parijata: the divine flowering tree with blossoms that never fade or wilt, taken to Indraloka by the Devas.

Additionally produced were;
Chandra: the moon which adorned Shiva's head.
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Dhanvantari: the "Vaidya of the Devas" with Amrita, the nectar of immortality. (At times, considered as two separate Ratna)

This list varies from Purana to Purana and is also slightly different in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

Lists are completed by adding the following Ratna:
Shankha: Vishnu's conch

The amṛta (The Final Ratna)
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