Halahala

For the Hindi thriller film, see Halahal (film).

Shiva drinks the kalakuta

Halāhala (Sanskrit हलाहल) or Kālakūṭa (Sanskrit कालकूट, lit. 'poison of death') is the name of a poison in Hindu mythology. It was created from the Ocean of Milk when the devas and the asuras churned it (see Samudra Manthana) in order to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality.

Fourteen different ratnas (treasures) were recovered from this episode, which were distributed between the two clans. But before the amrita could be formed, Halāhala was produced, which started injuring both sides. As no one could bear the lethal fumes emitted by the poison, both the devas and the asuras began to collapse due to asphyxiation. They ran for help to Brahma who advised them to seek assistance from Shiva. Both parties went to Mount Kailash, and prayed to Shiva for help.

Shiva chose to consume the entire poison and thus drank it. His wife, the goddess Parvati, was alarmed, as she gripped her husband's neck with both hands in order to stop the poison from reaching his stomach, thus earning him the epithet Viṣakaṇṭha (the one who held poison in his neck). The poison turned his throat blue. Hence, he is also known as Nīlakaṇṭha (the one with a blue throat).

In popular culture

The second episode of Indian television show Sacred Games was named Halahala based on the poison.

See also

• Samudra Manthana
• Kshira Sagara
• Vasuki
• Kali (asura)