The Snake Around Lord Shiva’s Neck: Myths and Legends
Lord Shiva: The Destroyer of Evil
Lord Shiva is a highly revered deity in Hinduism. He is part of the Hindu Trinity, which includes Brahma and Vishnu. Lord Shiva is known as the destroyer of evil and the transformer of the universe. He is often depicted in a meditative state, sitting on Mount Kailash, with a snake coiled around his neck.
The Moon and Maa Ganga
Lord Shiva is also shown with a small crescent moon on his hair and the river Ganga flowing through his matted hair. The crescent moon represents his control over the passage of time and the cycle of life and death. The river Ganga symbolizes his power to control the forces of nature.
The Snake Around Lord Shiva’s Neck
The snake around Lord Shiva’s neck is not an ordinary cobra but Vasuki, the king of all serpents. In Hindu beliefs and legends, Vasuki is not just a creature but a divine being. The presence of Vasuki around Lord Shiva’s neck symbolizes his mastery over fear, death, and poison, his ability to tame and control the wild and vicious, and his friendly nature towards all beings.
Who was Vasuki?
Vasuki was the king of Nagas, a race of serpent beings in Hindu mythology. He had a gem on his head, known as the Nagamani. During the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean, Vasuki worked as the rope-like element that churned around the mountain. When the poison Halahal emerged, Lord Shiva stepped in to drink it and save all creation, and Vasuki too drank some of it. As a reward for his help, Vasuki became an important part of Lord Shiva’s close aides.
Vasuki as the String of Lord Shiva’s Bow
Another lesser-known story of Vasuki’s connection to Lord Shiva is that he is said to serve as the string of Shiva’s bow. When Lord Shiva wanted to destroy the three cities of Tripura, made by the demon Tripurasura, Vasuki worked as the string to his bow and arrow, helping him shoot one arrow to destroy all three cities.
A Hint at the Control of Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva is always shown with a crescent moon, with Maa Ganga in his locks, a Trishul in his hand, Nandi at his service, and a snake coiled around his neck. Vasuki around Lord Shiva’s neck became a powerful symbol of control, his mastery over the wildest elements of nature, and how he was above material and world. It showed that Lord Shiva was beyond fear, beyond death, and beyond the limitations that bind ordinary beings.
