It's Shivaratri today- Om Namah Shivay

During the samudra manthan (the churning of the ocean) by the Gods and demons, haalaa-hala, a poison, came out of the ocean. It was toxic enough to have wiped out all creation. At this juncture, on the advice of Lord Vishnu, the gods approached Lord Shiva and prayed to him to protect their lives by consuming this poison. Pleased with their prayers, and out of compassion for living beings, Lord Shiva drank the poison but it was so intense that something was required to cool its effects as his throat became blue. Help was taken from Chandra (the moon) and finally a snake was placed around his neck which cooled the effect of the poison and the throat remained blue. Thus Lord Shiva is also known as Neelakantha, the one with a blue throat.

Today is his special day. I fast today in his honour- he was the first one I turned to when I was a child. Om Namah Shivay.