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Shiva As Mahadeva – Why Hindu God Shiva Is Known As Mahadevan?

One among the numerous names of Hindu God Shiva is Mahadev or Mahadevan – the greatest of all Devas or Gods. Shiva got the name, Mahadeva, after He dark the Kalakuda, or Halahala, poison that came out during the famous Samudra Manthan, or Churning of Ocean episode, in Hindu tradition.

Shiva drank the poison, which had the capacity devour without any hesitation, for the good of the world and he got the name Mahadev. Shiva as Mahadevan performed this selfless sacrifice for the welfare of the living beings.


Legend has it that while the ocean of milk was being churned by the Devas - Demigods) and Asuras (Demons) using Snake Vasuki as rope, the first thing to appear was a dark sticky foam. It was the dreaded poison Halahala or Kalakuta, which had the power to destroy the universe.

The poison started emitting fumes and soon started to spread in water and air. Shiva soon realized that the poison had the power to destroy the cosmos and immediately gathered the poisonous foam in his hands and drank it to save the world. This divine act made Him Mahadev – the greatest of the gods and the protector of all living and nonliving in the universe.