Halahala
Encyclopedia
Halāhala or Kalakootam (Sanskrit
कालकूटं ) is the name of a poison (as per Hindu mythology
) created from the sea when Deva
s (Gods) and Asura
s (Demons) churned the sea (see Samudra manthan
) in order to obtain Amrita
, the nectar of immortality.
Fourteen different ratna
s (gems) were recovered in this exercise mostly retained by Gods after Demons tried to cheat them. But before Amrita
were recovered, Halāhala ("the most vicious and venomous poison of universe") was produced which started killing both sides. As no one could bear the poisonous fumes emitted by the poison and both Devas & Asuras began to collapse due to asphyxiation. They ran for help to Brahma
, who looked for advise to Vishnu
. Vishnu said that only Shiva
could digest the deadly poison. So both parties, went to Kailasha
and prayed to Lord Shiva
for help. Shiva chose to consume the poison and thus drank it. His wife Parvati
, alarmed, stopped it in his throat with her hands thus earning him the name Viṣakaṇṭha (the one who held poison in his throat). The poison made his throat turn blue. Hence he is also known as Nīlakaṇṭha (the one with a blue throat). Gosaikunda
lake is believed to have formed from the digging of the land by the Trishul
(holy three-pointed spear, similar to the western trident) of lord Shiva. As after he drank the poison, he desperately wanted cold water to quench the thirst generated due to overwhelming heat of the poison.
Amrut paane se pahle Vish pinna padta hai. Literally, meaning before you can get Amrut
, you have to digest poison. Used generally to imply : Before you get successful, you have to face many odds in life.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
कालकूटं ) is the name of a poison (as per Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
) created from the sea when Deva
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
s (Gods) and Asura
Asura
-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...
s (Demons) churned the sea (see Samudra manthan
Samudra manthan
In Hinduism, Samudra manthan or Ksheera Sagara Mathanam, Churning of the Ocean of Milk is one of the most famous episodes in the Puranas...
) in order to obtain Amrita
Amrita
Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "immortality", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word's earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda where it is one of several synonyms of soma, the drink which confers immortality upon the gods. It is related etymologically to the Greek...
, the nectar of immortality.
Fourteen different ratna
Ratna
-People:* Ratna, Queen Mother of Nepal , was Queen Consort of Nepal from 1955 to 1972* Ratna Fabri, museologist of India* Ratna Pathak, Indian actress of Bollywood films* Ratna Singh, Indian politician from the Indian National Congress party...
s (gems) were recovered in this exercise mostly retained by Gods after Demons tried to cheat them. But before Amrita
Amrita
Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "immortality", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word's earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda where it is one of several synonyms of soma, the drink which confers immortality upon the gods. It is related etymologically to the Greek...
were recovered, Halāhala ("the most vicious and venomous poison of universe") was produced which started killing both sides. As no one could bear the poisonous fumes emitted by the poison and both Devas & Asuras began to collapse due to asphyxiation. They ran for help to Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
, who looked for advise to Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
. Vishnu said that only Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
could digest the deadly poison. So both parties, went to Kailasha
Mount Kailash
Mount Kailash is a peak in the Gangdisê Mountains, which are part of the Himalayas in Tibet...
and prayed to Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
for help. Shiva chose to consume the poison and thus drank it. His wife Parvati
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
, alarmed, stopped it in his throat with her hands thus earning him the name Viṣakaṇṭha (the one who held poison in his throat). The poison made his throat turn blue. Hence he is also known as Nīlakaṇṭha (the one with a blue throat). Gosaikunda
Gosaikunda
Gosaikunda, also spelled Gosainkunda and Gosain Kunda is an alpine freshwateroligotrophic lake in Nepal's Langtang National Park, located at an altitude of above sea level in the Rasuwa District with a surface of...
lake is believed to have formed from the digging of the land by the Trishul
Trishula
A trishula is a type of Indian trident but also found in Southeast Asia. It is commonly used as a Hindu-Buddhist religious symbol. The word means "three spear" in Sanskrit and Pali....
(holy three-pointed spear, similar to the western trident) of lord Shiva. As after he drank the poison, he desperately wanted cold water to quench the thirst generated due to overwhelming heat of the poison.
Proverb
There is a proverb in Hindi language, derived from this incident :Amrut paane se pahle Vish pinna padta hai. Literally, meaning before you can get Amrut
Amrita
Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "immortality", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word's earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda where it is one of several synonyms of soma, the drink which confers immortality upon the gods. It is related etymologically to the Greek...
, you have to digest poison. Used generally to imply : Before you get successful, you have to face many odds in life.