Neel Kanth Mahadev Temple....where Lord Shiva Drank the Poison

This is a picture of the Idol placed inside the Neel Kanth Mahadev Temple which depicts the Drinking of Halahal by Lord Shiva. The story of the churning of the ocean is well known in Hindu religion.

The Ocean was churned by using the mountain mandra and the snake Vasuki wrapped around it. Each side would hold an end of the snake and pull on it alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn would cause the Ocean to be churned. However, once the mountain was put on the Ocean, it began to sink. Then, Vishnu incarnated in the form of a turtle, Kurma to support the mountain.

As the ocean was churned, a deadly poison known as halahal emerged. This poison threatened to suffocate all living things. In response to various prayers, Lord Shiva drank the poison; his wife Parvati, alarmed, stopped it in his throat with her hands. This caused the throat to turn blue. Due to this, he is called Nīlakantha (nīla = "blue", kantha = "throat"). Then, various people, animals, and treasures emerged.

Om Namah Shivaya
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