How did Airavata, Uchaisravas and the heavenly treasures end up in the ocean?

Indra was sitting on his throne, presiding over festivities at Indraloka. The preceptor of the Gods, Brihaspati, arrived then. The devas, gandharvas, apsara, everyone stood and offered worship to the guru. Indra alone remained seated in his arrogance. Brihaspati noted that pride had gone to Indra’s head and he silently vanished. 

With the Guru absent, the fortunes of the Gods began to decline despite Indra coming to his senses and looking for the preceptor. Bali, of the daityas, knew that Indra had committed a grave mistake and the Devas were losing power. He led his people against the devas and won resoundingly. 

Indra’s wealth, prosperity, all his heavenly possessions including Amaravathi fell into Daitya hands. Airavata the elephant, Ucchaisravas the horse, rare gems and jewels and so much more- it was all gleefully gathered by the daityas to take away to their world, the Patala. 

But as they carried it off, the treasures fell away one by one into the ocean of milk no matter how much the daityas tried to prevent it. A surprised Bali asked his own preceptor, Shukra, what was happening and Shukra told him that heaven’s wealth, those good things that belonged to devaloka, would not be easily obtained and owned by anyone. Only one who has completed a 100 ashwamedhas can enjoy them.

Meanwhile, a chastened Indra went to Brahmadeva to ask for help in retrieving his position and status. Brahma gathered all the Suras and brought them to Mahavishnu. But the Lord said that Indra had earned his just desserts for insulting his preceptor.

“When you have lost everything and are vulnerable, you cannot afford to have enemies, Indra. Make friends with the daityas and with their help you shall retrieve your lost prosperity,” Mahavishu said. Indra meekly went to Bali and sought his help. After winning his confidence, Indra brought up the topic of the riches that had fallen into the ocean. “Let us work together to bring those riches out, Bali,” he said.  Bali wanted them too and he agreed. So the Mount Mandara was made the churning rod, the serpent Vasuki the rope. Mahavishnu held up the mount on his back so it would not dip down and the churning began. 

BUT, the devas and asuras had forgotten to invoke Ganapati and ask for his blessings. Before starting an endeavour, it was necessary to get Ganesha’s blessings, else the task would not get done successfully. Thanks to this oversight, a dark poison began to emerge from the ocean. 

It was Kalakuta, the most deadly poison of all. It spread through all the worlds, leaving death in its wake. It was so deadly that it turned Mahavishnu blue. It took Ganesha’s prayer to Mahadeva to resolve the deadly problem. 

Mahadeva turned into his Linga form and absorbed all the poison (no Neelakanta mentioned here) and then he appeared before the devas and berated them for having forgotten Ganesha in their hurry to start churning. He told them that Ganesha must be worshipped before starting anything to ensure successful outcomes.

The Suras (Devas) realised their mistake and worshipped Ganesha duly but the Asuras did not, instead choosing to ridicule them. Finally, the heaven’s riches came back into the possession of the Devas and the daityas were left empty handed.

Notes: The following emerged from the milk ocean at the churning:Chandradev, Surabhi and other cows, Kalpavriksha, Kaustubha mani, Ucchaisravas, Airavata, Wine and intoxicants, Maa Lakshmi

This is a story from Skanda purana- Maheswara Kanda- Kedara kanda