Story of the serpent around the neck of Lord Shiva.

 Story of the serpent around the neck of Lord Shiva. 

Lord Shiva, Vishakantha, Bhasmashayi, Chandreshwara, Nagabhushana – these are the names of several deities adorned with various weapons, ornaments, and attire distinct from other gods.

Kailasa's lord, the supreme deity. Mahadev possesses weapons, instruments, clothes, and accessories that are different from other gods. Holding a trident, known as Trishul, Lord Shiva adorns himself with a tiger's skin, the moon on his head, a damaru (drum) in one hand, and a serpent around his neck. Let's delve into the story of the serpent around the neck of Lord Shiva. 

Among the serpents coiled around Lord Mahadev's neck, Vasuki is the second most prominent one after Shesha. Vasuki is the king of the Nagas (serpents). Vasuki was one of the sons of the sage Kashyapa. According to one legend, the sage Kashyapa had two wives, Vinata and Kadru. Both wives bore him children with the sage Kashyapa. 

After a few days of marriage, Kashyapa was pleased with their service and granted them a boon. Kadru asked for a thousand sons, while Vinata asked for only two sons, but they would be more powerful than Kadru's thousand sons. Kashyapa granted their wishes. 

Over the period, Kadru gave birth to a thousand sons, the most prominent of whom was Shesha. Shesha is depicted with a thousand heads, suggesting he would remain even after the end of the world. It's believed that the earth rests on Shesha's hoods and that he holds the earth on his fangs. This gift was given to him by Lord Brahma. Due to being the eldest among the serpent sons, Shesha became the king of the Nagaloka (the realm of serpents). But due to Lord Brahma's blessing, he also became the king of the netherworld. Vasuki, who was the second son of Kadru, served the purpose of a simple ornament. For Lord Shiva's service, Vasuki handed over the Naga kingdom to his younger brother, Takshaka, and left.

Vasuki's journey to Lord Shiva's neck has been described in various religious texts. In one version, Vasuki was initially used as the rope to churn the ocean during the churning of the milk ocean (Samudra Manthan). When the churning began, Vasuki got injured, but when Lord Shiva drank the poison that emerged, Vasuki and another Naga helped him and drank the poison and save the universe. For his selfless devotion and service, Vasuki was allowed to adorn Lord Shiva's neck.

In another story, Vasuki's importance is linked to Lord Shiva's marriage to Parvati. Before their marriage, the deities requested Lord Shiva to adorn himself with ornaments for the occasion. Vasuki was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Vasuki willingly offered himself as an ornament. Impressed by Vasuki's devotion, Lord Shiva wore him around his neck.

In the view of Lord Shiva's devotees, the three coils of the serpent represent the past, present, and future. It symbolises Shiva's control over time. This suggests that Shiva is free from the bondage of time and remains in control of it.

In conclusion, the story of Vasuki's adornment around Lord Shiva's neck carries various moral and philosophical lessons. It emphasizes the importance of devotion, selflessness, and service in the path of spiritual growth.