Samudra manthan
Meditation / Churning the Mind: Aiyangar also surmises that the legend of the Samudra manthan symbolises churning the mind through meditation to achieve liberation (moksha). Based on the mention of "Vātaraśanāḥ" ('girdled by the wind') Munis in the Taittirtya Aranyaka - also referred to as "urdhvamanthin", meaning 'those who churn upwards' - and the explanation provided in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Aiyangar believes this would 'appear to be the hidden pivot on which the gist of the riddle of the Puranic legend about the churning for nectar turns'. R. Jarow seems to agree, stating the churning of the Ocean of Milk represents the 'churning of the dualistic mind'.Ascetic Penance: H.H. Wilson notes that 'the account [of the Samudra manthan] in the Hari Vamsa... is explained, by the commentator, as an allegory, in which the churning of the ocean typifies ascetic penance, and the ambrosia is final liberation' (linking with the idea of 'steadiness' and 'firmness'), but personally dismisses this interpretation as 'mere mystification' (Note 1, pp. 146).