Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.15

v2.c16.15

men prosper in all their actions, he bears the appellation Śiva (the auspicious). Śiva is known as Nīlakaṇṭha and Sitikaṇṭha. The following are the stories connected with these names: When the ocean of milk was churned for obtaining ambrosia for the gods, the first thing that came up from it was the all-destroying poison; the gods afraid of this dreadful poison withdrew from the churning; Śiva in his kindness to the gods, took up the poison and swallowed it; but Pārvatī who was near her consort would not permit the poison to get into the stomach of Śiva lest it should kill him; she pressed the throat of Śiva and the poison remained there. From that time the blue poison became visible through the fair skin of the throat of Śiva, and lent it a blue lustre, which accounts for his being known as Nīlakaṇṭha.* Again it is said in the Mahābhārata that when Śiva destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha, he