2007-07-27 23:46:40 · 4 answers · asked by Dhruva 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
During the Sagar Manthan by the gods and demons, haalaa-hala, a pot of poison also came out of the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was so toxic that it effects would have wiped out the entire creation. On the advice of Lord Vishnu, Gods approached Lord Shiva for help and protection as only he could swallow it without being affected. On the request of gods and out of compassion for living beings, Lord Shiva drank the poison to save the Universe and the humanity. However, Parvati -Lord Shiva’s consort pressed his neck so that the poison does not reach his stomach. Thus, it stayed in his throat neither going up nor going down and Shiva remained unharmed. The poison was so potent that it changed the color of Lord Mahadeva’s neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelakantha (the blue-necked one) where ‘Neela’ means blue and ‘Kantha’ means neck or throat.-
2007-07-28 00:16:20 · answer #1 · answered by Jayaraman 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The story says that the Gods and their brothers, the Demons, were churning the ocean in search of the pot of the nectar of immortality. However, after a great deal of effort, what emerged was not nectar, but poison!! The Gods and demons knew that in order to continue churning, and ultimately to unearth the Divine nectar, they could not simply toss the poison aside. Someone had to drink it. But, naturally, no one was willing to drink the poison. Everyone had some excuse for why he or she was too valuable to be sacrificed. Finally, Bhagwan Shiva came forward and said “I will drink the poison if it will preserve peace and enable my brothers and sisters to attain the nectar of immortality.”
However, if He swallowed the poison it would kill Him. If He spit it out, it would destroy the world. Thus, He kept it in His throat – hence the name Neelkanth – and sat peacefully in meditation for eternity.
2007-07-28 02:23:51 · answer #2 · answered by Sharma, Dr. Vinay k. 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Great question. Thanks
Shiva drank the halahal ie the poison for the welfare of the world and thus gave amrita to all. Shiva is the jagat Guru. From the churning of the ocean whatever poison came out he drank it himself and became the blue necked one to save the creation from that poison.
Jai Mahadev
2007-07-28 02:15:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
To save the rest of the world from being contaminated.
2007-07-28 01:17:36 · answer #4 · answered by BDG 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋