Who is the snake around Lord Shiva’s neck? The epic story of serpent king Vasuki

Why Does Lord Shiva Wear Serpent King Vasuki Around His Neck?

Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is often depicted as the supreme deity who dances in the cosmos, creating and destroying worlds. His image is awe-inspiring, adorned with ashes, a crescent moon on his head, the Ganges flowing from his locks, and most intriguingly, a serpent coiled around his neck. This serpent is none other than Vasuki, the King of Serpents, whose story is as ancient and profound as the deity he serves.

The Birth of Vasuki

Vasuki, the mightiest of all serpents, was born to the sage Kashyapa and his wife Kadru. He was no ordinary serpent; Vasuki was destined for greatness, ruling over the Nagas, a race of divine serpents. Known for his immense strength and wisdom, Vasuki was revered by gods and demons alike.

Know More About 12 Nagas of Hindu Mythology

Samudra Manthan: The Churning of the Ocean

The legend of Vasuki’s bond with Lord Shiva begins with the great churning of the ocean, also known as Samudra Manthan. The gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras) sought the nectar of immortality, Amrita, hidden deep within the cosmic ocean. To extract this nectar, they decided to churn the ocean using Mount Mandara as the churning rod. However, they needed a rope powerful enough to move the mountain, and Vasuki, the King of Serpents, was chosen for this monumental task.

Vasuki agreed, allowing himself to be wound around Mount Mandara. As the churning began, the immense pressure caused the mountain to sink, threatening the very existence of the cosmos. At that moment, Lord Vishnu transformed into a giant turtle to support the mountain on his back, stabilizing the process.

But as the churning intensified, Vasuki, caught in the middle, began to feel the strain. The friction and heat generated were unbearable, causing him to release deadly poison, Halahala, which threatened to destroy all of creation.

Lord Shiva’s Sacrifice

Witnessing the perilous situation, the gods and demons turned to Lord Shiva for help. Without hesitation, Shiva, the embodiment of compassion and sacrifice, intervened. He took the deadly poison into his hands and drank it to save the universe. As the poison touched his throat, it turned his neck blue, earning him the name Neelkanth—the blue-throated one.

Impressed by Shiva’s selflessness and moved by his pain, Vasuki, despite his agony, vowed to serve Lord Shiva for eternity. As a symbol of this pledge, Vasuki coiled around Shiva’s neck, offering his strength and protection to the Lord who had saved the cosmos from destruction.