Indran, to get rid of his curse by Durvasa Maharishi, approached Lord Narayana to show him a course of action to alienate the curse by which he had lost everything. To which the Lord replied to bring the Mount Mandira and churn the ocean of milk. The 33 crore devas started churning but they could not. Again they approached the Lord who replied that they should seek the help of 66 crores asuras also promising them the nectar which will come out of churning. As the 99 crore people lifted the mount it sank into the deep sea due to sheer height. Once more they approached the Lord for help whereupon the Lord took the avatara of tortoise (Koorma) and propped up the mountain on his back which was estimated to be 8,00,00 miles in extent. On seeing this Brahma and other gods propriated him. Asuras and gods alike wanted a rope to churn the ocean. The Lord suggested that they use Vasuki (the serpent) as a cord for whirling the mountain. He further said that they should not have greed for what all comes out of the ocean on churning.
A question arose as to why Lord was interested in churning the ocean so fast. Because he was interested in Goddess Mahalakshmi who was to come out of the ocean!! To attain Mahalakshmi, if God himself has to exert so much what is the position of mortals like us!
On churning first came the Kalkoota or Halahala poison. Lord Shiva to protect the afflicted drank the poison. His throat became blue that is why he is Neelakantan. Churning was continued and out came the cow of plenty, and then horse Uchchaishrava by name, then elephant Airavata, then a rare gem called Kaustubha, then came the tree called Parijata. Then came the Apsaras and Goddess Lakshmi.
As everybody stood gazing in wonder, she chose Lord Vishnu for her husband sprang up and occupied “his Vakshasthala”. Parasarar refer to this as “Lakshmi Kalyanam” in Vishnu Purana. All the devatas propriated this Mahalakshmi on her joining Sri Vishnu.
As the churning continued, a wonderful person called Dhanvanthri came up holding aloft a jar of nectar in his right hand. This was quickly snatched by the Asuras and there ensued a fight among them about distribution. The gods felt very dejected at having lost the nectar. The Lord then appeared in the form of damsel, the asuras and took the nectar and gave it to the devas who gladly drank and became young and strong, by playing a drama.
On achieving the object, the Lord mounted on Garuda and departed while everyone present was gazing in wonder.