Although Poison or venom is a common word, many types of poisons are described in Hindu Puranas. Generally, we have probably only heard about Kalakoot and Halahal. Many people also think that Kalakoot and Halahal are the same but this is also not true. Nine types of poisons have been described in the Puranas, which are called “Navavish”. Their intensity varies.
During the churning of the ocean, the first poisonous substance to come out was Halahal, which Lord Shiva took in his throat. Here those poisons have been categorized based on their intensity. These poisons are:
Vatsanabh
Although this poison is of initial intensity, it is so poisonous that just by smelling it, living beings can die. Even today, in the foothills of the Himalayas, there is a poisonous plant of the same name, which is also called sweet poison. In many places, it is also called Vietnam. It is found on the mountain at an altitude of approximately 4000-5000 meters and no other vegetation grows around it.
Haridrik
This is a more poisonous poison than Vatsnam. Nowadays many people also call it “Singiya”. It is a plant similar to turmeric (Haridri) whose root is highly poisonous.
Saktuk
Its killing power is many times more than that of Haridrik. It is also called Sattuk.
Pradipan
It is also called an Pradipak. It has been compared to fire. This poison causes extreme excitement and is fatal even to the gods. Its intensity is much more than Sattuk.
Saurashtrika
It is much more intense than illumination. It is believed that it originated at the Saurashtra salt place in present-day Gujarat.
Shringak
This is a more deadly poison than Saurashtra.
Brahmaputra
Some people believe that it originated from the womb of the Brahmaputra river while some people consider Supreme Father Brahma as its father. It is one of the most poisonous substances in the universe.
Kalakoot
This is a famous poison that is more intense only in Halahal. It is so deadly that it melts even ordinary creatures, metals, and stones in a moment. It has been considered equal to time itself. This poison is more pungent than the poison of the eight main snakes, including Takshak and Vasuki. Moreover, in many places, its intensity is considered more intense than the poison of Sheshnag itself.
It is mentioned in the Puranas that in the first Devasura battle, a demon named Prithumali was killed by the Gods. Wherever his blood drops fell, poisonous trees grew there. The Siddhas named that great poison Kalakoot. At many places, at the time of Samudra Manthan, Kalakoot has been described as emerging from the ocean, but at most places, Halahal is described. This is the reason why people consider Kalkoot and Halahal as synonyms but it is not so.
Halahal
At the time of the churning of the ocean, Halahal came out first. This poison has been compared to the one-hundredth part of the flame of the third eye of Rudra. It was so powerful that just by its touch any living being could be destroyed. Not only this, even the immortality of the gods cannot stand in front of its power. That is, the intensity of Halahal was capable of weakening the power of the nectar itself. When Halahal appeared from the womb of the ocean, the gods and demons became unconscious at the mere sight of him.
Its effect was such that all the living beings of the world started attaining death one by one. The most poisonous snakes and snakes could not bear its heat and died. What to say about others, Lord of Death Yamraj himself and Nagraj Vasuki, who was doing the work of churning the churner, also became unconscious due to its sharpness. Seeing his creation destroyed in this manner, Lord Brahma became distressed.
He asked Lord Vishnu the solution to cure that poison, but Lord Vishnu himself was holding Mandarachal on himself in the form of a tortoise, that is why he expressed his inability and said that only Mahadev has the power to hold this Halahala. Hearing this, Brahmadev invoked Mahadev. Seeing the destruction of the universe in this way, Mahadev drank the entire Halaal on his finger but at the request of Goddess Parvati, he kept it in his throat only. Due to the effect of that terrible poison, Mahadev’s throat turned blue and he was called Neelkanth.