Churning of the ocean by the Gods

At the churning of the ocean by the Gods and demons, various persons and articles were recovered from the deep -- these are called Retnas or gems and the popoular enumeration of them is fourteen.

1. Lakshmi, the Goddess of Beauty,

2. Bhanwantari the physician of the Gods,

3. the Apasarases or Nymphs of Indra's heaven,

4. Sura, the Goddess of Wine,

5. the Moon, the Jewel worn by Krishna,

6. the Karapaga Tree, the all bestowing Tree,

7. the Kamadenu, the Cow of abudance,

8. the Elephant of Indra,

9. His Steed, (war horses),

10. Poison

11. Amirtha or Ambrosia,

12. the Bow of Vishnu,

13. His Sankh,

14. His Shell.

(The items 12 to 14 are not generally included in the Pauranic lists, and even the Bhagavat and Vishnu Purana omit them -- In one place the Padma Purana gives but eleven, omiting the Kaustubha or gem of Krishna; in another, the Ultara Khanda, it enumerates nine, and the list is rather peculair; it runs Poison, the goddess of misfortune, the goddess of wine, sloth, the Apsarases, the elephenat of Indra, Lakshmi, the Moon, the Tulasi plant.

The Mahabharat specifies but nine, omitting the Cow and Tree of Plenty and the beauties of Swerga.

(Excerpts from "Mrichchakati or The Toy Cart)

It is the excerpts of translation from the original Sanscrit by Horace Hayman Wilson, Esq. in 1826)