PARAKUNNATH SREE VETTAKKORUMAKAN PAYYAN KSHETHRAM (TEMPLE), AROLI, KANNUR, KERALA: Lord Shiva is also called Neelkantha, the blue throated.

Wednesday, 11 January 2017

Lord Shiva is also called Neelkantha, the blue throated.

Indra, the King of gods was cursed by Durvasa Muni as Indra had shown disrespect to the special garland which Muni offered to him as Prasaad. Due to curse Indra and all Deva’s would become poverty-stricken and bereft of all influence and strength. And the curse became true. The deva’s then appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu suggested them to make a truce with the demons in a diplomatic manner so that they can work together towards the Ksheera Sagara Mathan, or the churning of the ocean of milk, to produce the nectar of immortality. Lord Vishnu wanted that the deva’s alone obtain the nectar.

Samudra manthan started with Asura’s who were under the leadership of the mighty Bali Maharaja, a descendant of the great demoniac king Hiranyakashapu and Deva’s under the leadership of Indra.

Lord Vishnu helped them by carrying Mandara Mountain on the back of Garuda, His vahana which was used as churning rod and Vasuki, the King of Serpents, became the churning rope. Shri Vishnu then took the form of a Kurma, tortoise, and held the mountain on His back to allow the churning to continue. During the churning of the ocean it first produced a poison called halahala that spread in all directions. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was so toxic that it effects would have wiped out the entire creation. Lord Vishnu advised Gods to approach Lord Shiva for help as only he could swallow it without being affected. Out of compassion for living beings, Shiva gathered the poison in his palms and drank it. However, Maa Parvati pressed his neck so that the poison does not reach his stomach. Thus, it was held in his throat. The poison was so potent that it changed the colour of Shivas neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelkantha, the blue throated.!