Swayambhu Shivshankar is known by many names including Mahadev, Bholenath, Shankar, Mahesh, Rudra. Shiva is also called Neelkanth. But very few people know how Bholenath got the name Neelkanth. There is a story behind it. In this blog, you will know about this story in which it is described that why Lord Shiva is called Neelkanth.
According to the Puranas, both the gods and the demons wanted to get the nectar. For this the ocean was churned. This ocean churning took place in the ocean of milk (Kshirsagar). Vasuki Nag was made a rope for churning the ocean. After this, both the gods and the demons started churning the ocean to get nectar. Out of this churning, 14 gems came out of Lakshmi, Shankh, Kaustubhmani, Airavat, Parijat, Uchchaishrava, Kamadhenu, Kalakuta, an Apsara named Rambha, Varuni liquor, Moon, Dhanvantari, Amrit and Kalpavriksha. The gods showed cleverness and succeeded in getting the nectar. But along with the nectar came the poison. During this, a terrible poison called Kalakoot came out from the sea. The fire of this poison was so strong that it started burning the ten directions. The gods and demons also started burning with the fire of that poison. This poison was so dangerous that if even a drop of it fell on the world, it had the power to destroy the world. The gods and the demons got scared knowing this. He could not solve it. In such a situation, the gods and the demons all reached Shiva. Shiva listened to everyone and found a solution. He said that he would drink the whole poison himself. It was only then that Shiva picked up the pot which contained the poison and drank all the poison himself. But he did not bring this poison down his throat. He kept it around his neck. This turned his throat blue and this was the reason why he got the name Neelkanth. At the time when Shiva drank the poison, a few drops of the poison fell on the ground, due to which creatures like scorpions, snakes etc. and some vegetation took it. Because of this, these creatures became poisonous.
Be tuned with Joyastro, to know more about the vastu and the astro related solutions.