Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.482

c4.482

6) Kālakūṭa. The story of how the deadly poison, Kālakūṭa arose at the churning of the ocean of Milk, is given in M.B., Ādi Parva, Chapter 18, Verses 42-45, as follows: After many precious things had come up Kālakūṭa poison with fumes and flames, appeared on the surface of the ocean. Its strong smell caused a stupor in all the three worlds. Fearing that the world will perish, Brahmā requested Śiva to swallow that poison. Śiva gulped it down, but stopped it in his throat. From that day he became "Nīlakaṇṭha".