Nilakantha

Nilakantha

“blue neck”, “blue throat”

The name is Shiva’s epithet associated with the mythological episode of the churning of the Milk Ocean by gods and demons (asuras) described in the Puranas.

Among the objects that appeared from the ocean was the poison of kalakuta, which threatened the death of the gods and all living beings on earth. To avert the danger, Shiva drank the poison and held it in his throat, causing it to turn blue.