Self devotion of Siva. His life is full of instances of self - devotion. Vasuki, king of the Serpents,is about to vomit forth the venom that covered the surface of the sea.the creatures, horrified by this frightful deluge,implore Siva to save them from it . Touched by compassion,he receives the poisonous flood in the hollow of his hand and drinks it. But the venom burned his gullet so severely that the mark remained for ever visible outside upon his throat. Since that time the great ascetic bears among his names that of Nilakantha,or ฺBlue Throat