Neelakantha

Neelakantha, the name of Sadashiva, God of destruction to recreate in Hindu triumvirate, drank the deadly poison that came out during the churning of the ocean for the celestial nectar or Amrita by the gods (Devas) and the demons(Asuras). The deadly poison, Halahala, if allowed to escape, would have destroyed the whole universe and as Amrita had not manifested yet, there was no recourse. To save the universe from destruction, Shiva drank the poison but kept it suspended in his throat as otherwise he would also have perished from the poison, throwing the universe into utter chaos. As a result, his throat ( Kantha ) became blue (Neela) from the deadly effect of the poison Halahala. From that time Shiva also is known as Neelakantha.

When the mind is set free,

Unshackled from its reins,

And let it roam around,

A treasure trove it explores, and

Along with the pearls,

Comes up the muck.

 

When the gods churned

the ocean,

In search of the celestial nectar,

Up came the poison

To obliterate the universe.

Will I have the strength

Of Shiva

To drink the poison and

Be Neelakantha,

Or will I perish

To the lure of the glitter,

Seduced and discarded

In plain sight of the nectar?

 

Oh, the allure

of the enchantress!

Giving in to my senses,

Let me drown

In your ephemeral beauty tonight,

And cool my passion.

Let the fire of desire

Be quenched by

The touch of those lips,

Nary a drop of nectar

That will ever touch.

Let the poison devour me,

And nectar wait.

What good is immortality

That will erase my memory

Of thy celestial, transient beauty.