Churning the Ocean of Milk

The Apsarases differ from the Gandharva Devas: the former are mere qualities and quantities. The latter, celestial singers, musicians, and instructors of mankind in the Secret Science. They are the Asuras or Daimons of the allegory. At the churning of the Ocean of Amrita, the Water of Immortality, the Suras and the Asuras twisted Shesha, the Great Serpent, rope-like round Mt. Mandara causing it to revolve. The Gods were at the one end of the serpent, the Daimons at the other.