Neelkanth Temple, Kalinjar – Legends

Neelkanth Temple, Kalinjar – Legends

During the churning of the Ocean of Milk (Samudra Manthana), Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, a Nagaraja who abides on Lord Shiva's neck, became the churning rope. During the churning process, the Halahala poison escaped from the mouth of the serpent king Vasuki. This terrified the gods and demons because the poison was so powerful that it could destroy all of creation.

Despite this, the Devas and the Asuras pulled back and forth on the snake's body alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean. The Devas then approached Lord Shiva for protection. Lord Shiva consumed the poison. Lord Shiva was suffering intense pain. Mother Parvati immediately places a hand on his throat, stopping the poison to flow any further, and by her Maya stopped it forever.

As a result, his throat turned blue and he was henceforth called Neelakantha (the blue-throated one; Neela – blue, Kantha – throat in Sanskrit). The Halahala poison didn’t harm him but his throat was burning. He decided to take rest. So, he came to earth to take rest in Kalinjar and achieved victory over death. Thus, Lord Shiva of this temple came to be called as Neelkanth.