in Indian mythology, is the god of the healing art, a special incarnation of Vishnu. There are no separate temples built for him (pagodas), but his image, a statue representing an old, bearded man, reading a book, is erected on Vishnu's altar. He was produced when the gods turned the Mandar mountain into the sea of milk, to prepare amrita. Then he came out from the sea with a vessel which contained this ambrosia.