Lord Shiva ,Neelkanth Mahadev, whose greatness is unparalleled is said to once have consumed all the poison in the world, just to rid all beings of this misery and get Amrita (nectar) in turn

Lord Shiva ,Neelkanth Mahadev, whose greatness is unparalleled is said to once have consumed all the poison in the world, just to rid all beings of this misery and get Amrita (nectar) in turn:


Now it is my turn to ask, said the Yogi" why did you choose me?"
Although God is one, His attributes are different in His different manifestations. Your form held a particular appeal for me. I was awed both by your appearance and character. Here was a lord, with no kingdom, no material acquisitions, no riches, nothing, yet he was bestowing gifts upon others. Here was a God sitting serenely in meditation, a technical God? Someone who loved his wife and children, and was so much at ease with nature. Someone who loved the forests and the hills, the rivers and the springs and all the beings, that lived in them. I loved the way you let your hair hang loose, and was intrigued at your informal attire. I was particularly taken in by your spirit of sacrifice. It is said, that once all the Gods and demons, realised that there was ambrosia in the ocean. But they had to churn the ocean for this ambrosia. Casting their differences aside, they made teams, and using a mountain for the churner, and vasuki, the largest snake available, as a rope, they churned the ocean. All was well, till they realised, that as a result of production of ambrosia, venom would also be produced, in sizeable quantity, by the vomiting of Vasuki, after such an ardous talk. This too, had to be disposed by consuming, in accordance with the laws of Nature. No one dared to consume their little portions of the venom. Everyone was interested only in the ambrosia. You stepped forwards and consumed the whole of the venom, because it was of prime importance to you, that all must get ambrosia, even if it meant your death. Thereafter they realised, that you were ‘Mahadeva’ Lord amongst lords.

{From The Yogi and the snake, by shailendra gulhati 1995}