Lord Shiva And Snakes

There are various tales associating snakes and Lord Shiva. One of them is related to Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean where Lord Shiva drank a deadly poison named Halahala. It is believed that there were also some snakes in the water who did the same. Impressed by this act of snakes, Lord Shiva accepted Vasuki (king of snakes) around his neck.

However, in another version of this story, the snakes helped Lord Shiva keep the poison in his throat.

There is another legend which says that the snakes found on his body became ornaments during his marriage with Parvati. Also, it is said that Lord Shiva made ornaments out of poisonous snakes and submitted them to Goddess Parvati as a gift.

It is believed that the three rounds of the snake around his neck depict the future, present, and past!