The tales, myths, and legends, about Hindu Gods, Goddesses, and other characters are endless. And they aren’t just very intriguing, but also powerful, carrying meanings and plots that could have a thousand interpretations!
And one such is about Lord Shiva, the different ornaments on his body, from a crescent moon to a flowing river, and the way he carries them all comes with a story. And as Lord Shiva is the supreme ascetic and the destroyer of evil, the snake coiled around his neck also makes people wonder whether this snake is a king cobra or some other serpent.

All about Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva is a part of the Hindu Trinity of Gods, often referred to as Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Lord Shiva). He thus becomes the destroyer of all evil and the transformer of the Universe. He is often shown in a meditative state, sitting on top of Mount Kailash, and spends a life of simplicity and minimalism. He wears a tiger skin, dons a Rudraksh mala, and makes way for creation and transformation. The body of Lord Shiva is covered in ashes, or Bhasm, and it is a symbol of him being above life and death. He also holds a Trishul in hand, ready to create, preserve, or destroy. And with Lord Shiva’s third eye, one that remains closed most of the time, when it opens, all evil is destroyed.

The moon and Maa Ganga

Lord Shiva is often shown with a small crescent moon on his hair, and according to legends, the moon being on Lord Shiva’s matted locks, shows his control and power over the passage of time, over the dark days, and how a ray of light shines with a moon. It is said that the crescent moon on his head is a symbol of the cycle of life and death, and the calm wisdom that Lord Shiva possesses. It also represents his control over the forces of nature, showing that even celestial bodies are near him and in his power.

Plus, there is the river Ganga flowing through his matted hair. According to legends, King Bhagirath had to perform severe penance to wash away the bad karma of his ancestors, and to take their remains to heaven, Maa Ganga came down to Earth. But when she was released onto Earth, her force was so great that it could have destroyed everything in its path, and so to prevent this disaster, Lord Shiva caught Ganga in his hair, controlling her flow and allowing her to descend gently.

The snake around Lord Shiva’s neck

And between all this we have a serpent coiled around Lord Shiva’s neck. And this snake is not an ordinary cobra but Vasuki, the king of all serpents. In Hindu beliefs and legends, Vasuki is not a mere creature, but a divine being.
The presence of Vasuki around Lord Shiva’s neck became a symbol of many things. For example, it showed his mastery over fear, death, and poison, his ability to tame and control the wild and vicious, and his friendly nature towards all, from humans to animals, giving him the name of Pashupatinath, the God of Pashus, beings, and more.

Who was Vasuki?

The King of Snakes in Hinduism, Vasuki was a mighty servant who helped Lord Shiva throughout his life and then found his home on Lord Shiva’s neck. He is known as the king of Nagas, and had a gem on his head, known as the Nagamani.
It is said that during the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean, Vasuki worked as the rope-like element that churned around the mountain.
It is said that when Devas and Asuras joined forces to churn the cosmic ocean in search of Amrit, to perform the churning they needed a powerful and unbreakable rope. And thus Vasuki was chosen for his might and power.
Vasuki wrapped himself around Mount Mandar, which was used as the churning rod, and the Devas pulled from one end, and the Asuras pulled from the other, rotating the mountain and churning the ocean.
As the process began, and the Halahal emerged, Lord Shiva stepped in to drink it and save all creation, and Vasuki too drank some of it.
And so Lord Shiva, instead of swallowing it completely, held the poison in his throat, which turned blue due to the poison’s effect. As Vasuki helped Lord Shiva and the Gods, he became an important part of Lord Shiva’s close aides.

Vasuki as the string of Lord Shiva’s bow

Another lesser-known story of Vasuki’s connection to Lord Shiva is that he is said to serve as the string of Shiva’s bow.
It is said that when Lord Shiva wanted to destroy the three cities of Tripura, made by the demon Tripurasura, Vasuki worked as the string to his bow and arrow, helping him shoot one arrow to destroy all three cities.

A hint at the control of Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva has thus always been shown with a crescent moon, with Maa Ganga in his locks, a Trishul in his hand, Nandi at his service, and a snake coiled around his neck. And while both King Cobra and Vasuki are regarded as the King of Serpents, there has been no real evidence of the King Cobra being of the same species as Vasuki Indicus.
And so Vasuki, in Lord Shiva’s life, was not just an ornament, but according to tales and legends, a helper and a dear aide. Vasuki around Lord Shiva’s neck became a powerful symbol of control, his mastery over the wildest elements of nature, and how he was above material and world. It showed that Lord Shiva was beyond fear, beyond death, and beyond the limitations that bind ordinary beings.