MAHA SHIVARATRI
During Samudra Mathan, a
pot poison emerged from the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the
poison was capable of destroying the entire world, and they ran to Lord Shiva
for help.
To protect the world, Lord shiva drank the deathly poison.
Goddess Parvathi fearful of the adverse effects of
poison(Halahala) on
Shiva, grabbed Shiva's neck and did not allow the poison to reach his stomach.
Because of the effect of the poison, Lord Shiva's neck became blue and he was
given the name Neelakanta, the
blue throated one.
Shivaratri is the celebration of this event by
which Lord Shiva saved the world.
