Neelkanth: When Shiv Drank the Poison

The Puranas tell that once the devas and asuras together churned the ocean of milk to obtain amrit, the nectar of immortality. Mount Mandarachal became the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki the rope. Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise, Kurma, and held the mountain on his back.

Before the nectar, a terrible poison rose from the churning: Halahal. Its fumes set all ten directions burning. Devas, asuras, humans and animals all writhed in pain. No one could stop it. Then all of them together went to Kailash and took refuge in Shiv.

Shiv saw everyone's suffering. He looked at Parvati, and she agreed. Shiv took all the poison in his palm and drank it. He let it neither go down into his body nor spill outside: the poison stopped in his throat. Tradition says Parvati held his throat to keep it there.

The poison turned Shiv's throat blue. That is why he is called Neelkanth, the blue-throated one. The poison that could have destroyed all of creation, Shiv held within himself to protect others. Then the churning continued, and at last the nectar appeared.

Devotees believe that the devas poured water over Shiv to cool the heat of the poison. In that spirit, water is still offered on the Shivling today, and in the month of Sawan devotees walk the Kanwar Yatra, carrying Ganga water to bathe Shiv.