Myths Collection

Seeking privacy while she bathed, the Goddess Parvati created a son from turmeric paste to guard her doorway on Mount Kailash. When Lord Shiva returned and was denied entry by the boy, a divine battle ensued that resulted in the boy being beheaded. To restore order and appease Parvati's grief, Shiva replaced the boy's head with that of an elephant, creating the beloved deity Ganesha.

During the great churning of the Ocean of Milk by gods and demons, a lethal poison called Halahala emerged that threatened to destroy all of creation. To save the universe, Lord Shiva consumed the toxin, holding it in his throat where it turned his skin blue. This act of ultimate sacrifice established Shiva as Neelakantha, the Blue-Throated Savior.