Why Does Lord Shiva Wear a Snake Around His Neck?

When you picture Lord Shiva, the image is instantly recognizable and breathtakingly unique. He sits in deep meditation on Mount Kailash, his body smeared with holy ash, the crescent moon resting in his matted hair, and the holy Ganga flowing from his locks. But perhaps the most striking and intimidating feature of Mahadev is the venomous cobra coiled three times around his blue neck, its hood raised in a protective stance. To the uninitiated, a snake represents fear, danger, and death. So why does the Supreme Lord of the Universe, the destroyer of evil, wear a deadly serpent as an ornament? The answer weaves together an epic tale from the Samudra Manthan (The Churning of the Ocean), deep yogic symbolism, and Mahadev’s boundless compassion as Pashupatinath—the Lord of all creatures.