Halahala (Sanskrit हलाहल) is the name of a poison (as per Hindu mythology) created from the sea when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the sea in order to obtain Amrita, the nectar of immortality.
Fourteen different ratnas (gems) were recovered in this exercise mostly retained by Gods after Demons tried to cheat them. Before these were recovered, halahala ("the most vicious and venomous poison") was produced which started killing both sides. Both parties prayed Lord Shiva to help. Shiva being the supreme one chose to consume the poison. His wife Parvati, alarmed, stopped it in his throat with her hands thus earning him the name Vishakantha (the one who held poison in his throat). The poison made his throat turn blue. Hence he is also known as Neelkantha (the one with a blue throat).
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