HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Kalakuta"

Word

Kalakuta

Sanskrit

कालकूट

IAST

kālakūṭa

In General

The black mass as poison that came out of the Serpent Vasuki (served as churning rope) during the churning of the Ocean of Milk is called Kalakuta. The poison was so deadly that the whole universe will get destroyed by that. At this critical moment Devas and Asuras who churn the Ksirasagara became very much frightened. Lord Siva came to the rescue and consumed the deadly poison; Parvati, wife of Lord Siva intervened and did not allow the poison to go down the throat by holding Siva’s the throat. As a result the poison get localized and dried in the throat and the lord was saved. Sivaratri is celebrating every year to remember this event. Siva become nilagriva, the blue necked by the effect of poison.

Kalakuta poison is also called as Halahala

Veda

Veda doesn’t have the story of churning of ocean but Lord Siva is called as Nilagriva (blue necked) in Rudra Chamaka of Y.V.

Related entries found !

Word Sanskrit IAST In General Veda Purana