We all know Shiva as the destoyer and one of the most powerful of the holy trinity and the most loved (and often feared) Gods of Hinduism. However, apart from his divine powers, his appearence too is often talked about and today, we explore some lesser known stories regarding his form
2 / 15
Why is Shiva called Neelkanth
During Samudra Manthan, when the Devtas and asuras were fighting over the amrit (nectar) churned out during the manthan, along with it, a sticky, black foam also came out - a deadly poison that had the power to destroy the whole world - to prevent the poison from reaching the devtas, Shiva drank the whole thing as his wife Parvati held his neck tight
3 / 15
Contd...
This way, the poison stayed in Shiva's neck and did not permeate further down - hence Shiva came to be known as Neelkanth (meaning blue neck)
4 / 15
Covering his body with ash
There was once a sage called Sage Bhrigu. He perfomed a stict penance and after many days, when he accidentally cut his finger, instead of blood, some ash came out. Filled with pride, he declared himself to be the biggest ascetic of the world. Seeing this, Shiva took the disguise of an old man and appeared before him
5 / 15
Cont...
After listening to him gloat, Shiva revealed himself and cut himself at various places to show the sage the ash that was coming out of his body. The sage, ashamed, asked for forgiveness from Shiva. Post that, Shiva always applied ash on his body.
6 / 15
Shiva's tandava
Once the dwarf demon Apasmara challenged Lord Shiva - Shiva then took on the form of Nataraja and and during the famous Tandava, crushed him under his feet. However, he did not kill the demon and it is said that Shiva will always take that form whenever a demon like Apasmara emerges in the world.
7 / 15
Shiva falling under Goddess Kali's feet
Once there was a powerful demon called Rakta Beej who was speading mayhem in the world. To put an end to his devastation, all the Gods summoned Goddess Durga (also known as Parvati) who then took the form of the menacing Kali. Once she killed Rakta Beej, she went on a rampage due to her new found lust for blood and no one could control her
8 / 15
Contd...
Seeing this, Shiva decided to lie down on her way. Enraged, Kali stepped on Shiva, but quicky realized her mistake, that she had stepped on her own husband. This made her tongue stick out and she quickly calmed down.
9 / 15
Ganga flowing from Shiva's hair
Once the ancestors of Bhagiratha, who was a legendary king of the Ikshvaku dynasty were cursed by the the Sage Kapila. Only the celestial river Ganga could purify the ancestors and relieve the family of the curse, but to do this, Ganga's landfall had to be controlled in order to not flood the entire world
10 / 15
Contd...
Hence, as soon as Ganga flew down, Shiva trapped her in his hair and released her as 7 rivers - Bhagirathi, Janhvi, Bhilanga, Mandakini, Rishiganga, Saraswati and Alaknanda. All of them, till date meet at some point and are known as the Ganges.
11 / 15
Shiva and cannabis
Once Shiva, angered due to some reason wandered into the forest and fell asleep under a cannabis tree. When he woke up, he felt hungry and had some leaves of the tree which instantly perked him up. From that day, Shiva is associated with cannabis.
12 / 15
Moon on his head
It is said that during Samundra manthan when Shiva drank all the poison churned out from the ocean, his body temperature rose and to bring it down, he placed the moon (cooling in nature) on his head. This act also symbolises the peak point of any human.
13 / 15
Snake around his neck
During Samundra manthan, seeeing Shiva drinking all the poison, the snakes present in the ocean bowed down to him in respect - Shiva then accepted Vasuki as the king of snakes and wore him around his neck as a mark of respect.
14 / 15
Story of Nandi the bull
Surabhi who was the mother of cows, give birth to many more cows and milked them, thus flooding Shiva's house one time. Enraged Shiva opened his third eye and was about to leash destruction on the cows, when Surabhi offered him the most magnificient bull Nandi to him, as a mark of forgiveness
15 / 15
Contd...
Nandi then become Shiva's vahana (vehicle) and also the protector of all cows - till date it is customary to pray to Nandi whenever visiting a Shiva temple. Devotees also whisper their desires into his ear as it is believed that he is the messenger to Lord Shiva.