Amrita in Hindu mythology, is the nectar of immortality which the gods on Mount Meru drink to lengthen their lives, for they are not immortal. The gods and giants are said to have carried the Mandar mountain into a sea of milk, wound the huge snake Ananden around it, and turned the mountain so long that the milk became butter, out of which arose the moon, happiness, abundance, and all arts and sciences. Then came a genius carrying a vessel, full of this holy nectar. This caused a fierce combat between the gods and the giants, which Vishnu decided in favor of the former. The giants were thrown down the fearful precipice, and the gods enjoyed rest on the Meru mountain. Symbolism sees in this myth the turning of the earth on its axis, and interprets the snake as the equator belting the earth. The combat is interpreted as a revolution of the earth, upon which the repose of the human race follows.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More