Why is Lord Shiva called Nilakantha?

During the churning of the ocean, Shiva drank the halahala poison to protect the world and held it in his throat, which turned blue. That is why he is called Nilakantha, "the blue-throated one".

Who are Lord Shiva's wife and children?

Shiva's consort is Parvati, who in an earlier birth was Sati. Their sons are Ganesha and Kartikeya (Skanda).

Which day is considered best for worshipping Shiva?

Monday is traditionally Shiva's day. The month of Shravan, the Pradosh fast and Maha Shivaratri are also especially observed for his worship.

What is the Shiva lingam?

The lingam is the aniconic, symbolic form of Shiva, worshipped in temples and homes with offerings of water, milk and bilva leaves. The twelve Jyotirlingas are regarded as its holiest shrines.

What is the main mantra of Lord Shiva?

"Om Namah Shivaya", the five-syllable Panchakshara mantra, is the best-known mantra of Shiva. The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is also widely chanted in his worship.

Shiva

Mahadeva, the First Yogi, the Blue-Throated One

Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism — the destroyer and transformer within the Trimurti, and the Supreme Being in the Shaiva tradition. He is worshipped as Mahadeva, Shankara, Bholenath and Nilakantha.

The Story of Shiva

Shiva's roots lie in the Rigvedic Rudra — a fierce yet benevolent god invoked for healing and protection. The Shvetashvatara Upanishad elevates Rudra-Shiva to the supreme source of creation, and his mythology is told at length in the Shiva Purana and Linga Purana. Within the Trimurti, Brahma creates, Vishnu preserves and Shiva destroys — though his destruction is less annihilation than dissolution: clearing away the old so that the new can arise. Among his best-known stories is the churning of the ocean. When the gods and asuras churned the Ocean of Milk for the nectar of immortality, the first thing to rise was halahala, a poison able to burn all the worlds. Out of compassion Shiva drank it and held it in his throat, which turned blue — hence the name Nilakantha. Likewise, when the Ganga descended from heaven in answer to King Bhagiratha's penance, the earth could not have withstood her force; Shiva caught her in his matted locks and released her gently, and so he is called Gangadhara. His first consort was Sati, daughter of Daksha Prajapati, who gave up her body when her father insulted Shiva at his sacrifice. She was reborn as Parvati, daughter of the Himalaya, and through intense austerity won Shiva once again. Their sons are Ganesha and Kartikeya, and the bull Nandi is his mount and chief of his attendants. Shiva is at once the Adiyogi, absorbed in meditation on Mount Kailasa, and Nataraja, whose cosmic dance keeps the rhythm of creation and dissolution — a union of opposites that sets him apart. Shiva is worshipped above all in the form of the lingam. The twelve Jyotirlingas, the month of Shravan, Monday fasts and Maha Shivaratri are the pillars of his devotion, and "Om Namah Shivaya", the five-syllable Panchakshara mantra, is his most widely chanted mantra.

Iconography & Symbols

Matted locks holding the Ganga and a crescent moon, a third eye on the forehead, the serpent Vasuki and rudraksha beads at the neck, ash-smeared skin, trident (trishula) and damaru drum in hand, a tiger skin — with the bull Nandi beside him. Most often worshipped as the lingam.

Other Names

Mahadeva
Shankara
Bholenath
Nilakantha
Rudra
Maheshvara
Pashupati
Nataraja

Shiva: Aartis, Chalisas, Stotras & Festivals

Aarti

Shiv Aarti

Chalisa

Shiv Chalisa

Stotra

Vrat Katha

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Lord Shiva called Nilakantha?: During the churning of the ocean, Shiva drank the halahala poison to protect the world and held it in his throat, which turned blue. That is why he is called Nilakantha, "the blue-throated one".
Who are Lord Shiva's wife and children?: Shiva's consort is Parvati, who in an earlier birth was Sati. Their sons are Ganesha and Kartikeya (Skanda).
Which day is considered best for worshipping Shiva?: Monday is traditionally Shiva's day. The month of Shravan, the Pradosh fast and Maha Shivaratri are also especially observed for his worship.
What is the Shiva lingam?: The lingam is the aniconic, symbolic form of Shiva, worshipped in temples and homes with offerings of water, milk and bilva leaves. The twelve Jyotirlingas are regarded as its holiest shrines.
What is the main mantra of Lord Shiva?: "Om Namah Shivaya", the five-syllable Panchakshara mantra, is the best-known mantra of Shiva. The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is also widely chanted in his worship.