Lord Śiva is called Nīlakaṇṭhā , meaning the one with a blue neck . In the Bhagavata Purana , it is said that in the quest for the nectar of immortality (amrutham) , the devas and asuras made truce and started churning the Milky Ocean . Mount Mandara was used as the rod and the serpent Vasuki as the cord . Unable to tolerate the pressure during churning , the serpent Vasuki spilled out poison . The alarmed devas and asuras ran towards Lord Śiva , pleading for His help . Lord Śiva saved them by consuming the poison and contained it in His neck .
The poison here represents the impurities that the mind picks up . In day-to-day life , one encounters guilt and hurt . Dwelling upon them gives rise to anger and frustration , making the mind impure . An impure mind is not fit for managing one's thoughts and life becomes a total mess . Not only is the individual rendered helpless in dealing with worldly matters , but he or she also becomes unfit for spiritual undertakings .
Therefore , we worship Lord Śiva by chanting His names and glories through which the mind is purified . There is nothing more healing than the Lord’s name . It is a balm for all the daily hurt , for all the aches and pains of life . On Śivarātri night particularly , the chanting of the Sri Rudram , Panchakshara-mantra japa and Maha Mrityunjaya mantra japa are considered highly efficacious . Ultimately , one realises that the Lord alone is one’s saviour from a life of becoming (samsara) .
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