Nilakanta (Hinduism)

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Shiva drinks the kalakuta, rendering his throat blue.

Nilakanta (Sanskrit: नीलकण्ठ, romanizedNīlakaṇṭha, lit.'blue throat') is one of the epithets of the Hindu deity Shiva.[1]

Legend[edit]

According to Hindu mythology, Shiva gained this epithet when he consumed the kalakuta (poison) that emerged from Samudra Manthana, which rendered his throat blue.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hatcher, Brian A. (2020-03-10). Hinduism Before Reform. Harvard University Press. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-674-24711-6.
  2. ^ Gupta, Ravi; Valpey, Kenneth (2013-03-26). The Bhagavata Purana: Sacred Text and Living Tradition. Columbia University Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-231-14999-0.