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The devas and the asuras (gods and demons) united in their efforts to churn the celestial ocean of milk (ksheera saagaram), in quest of Amrita (the nectar of life and immortality). This mammoth task was carried out with the Mandara Mount as the churning stick and the mythological snake Vasuki as the rope. Vishnu assumed the Koorma avatara (tortoise) to hold the Mandara mountain in place and to prevent it from sinking into the ocean. Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth emerged from the ocean, and so did the moon god Chandra. Vshnu married Laksmi and Shiva adored the moon God Chandra in his locks.
Shiva is referred to as 'the good one' or the 'auspicious one'. Shiva - Rudra is considered to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Shiva - Shankara is the doer of good. Shiva is 'tri netra' or three eyed, and is 'neela kanta' - blue necked (having consumed poison to save the world from destruction. Shiva - Nataraja is the Divine Cosmic Dancer. Shiva - Ardhanareeswara is both man and woman. He is both static and dynamic and is both creator and destroyer. He is the oldest and the youngest, he is the eternal youth as well as the infant. He is the source of fertility in all living beings. He has gentle as well as fierce forms. Shiva is the greatest of renouncers as well as the ideal lover. He destroys evil and protects good. He bestows prosperity on worshippers although he is austere. He is omnipresent and resides in everyone as pure consciousness.
The five mantras that constitute Shiva's body are Sadyojaata, Vaamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha and Eesaana. Eesaana is Shiva not visible to the human eye, Sadyojaata is Shiva realized in his basic reality (as in the element earth, in the sense of smell, in the power of procreation and in the mind). The Vishnudharmottara Purana of the 6th century BC assigns a face and an element to each of the above mantras. (Sadyojaata - earth, Vaamadeva - water, Aghora - fire, Tatpurusha - air and Eesaana - space). It is believed that reciting slokas and sthothras on Lord Shiva will bestow happiness and prosperity. Shiva Dyanam Vandhe Sambumumapathimh suragurum Shree Shiva Ashtothram Om Sivaya namah Om Vama-devaya namah Om Shula-panine namah Om Srikantaya namah Om Siti-kantaya namah Om Andhaka-sura-sudanaya namah Om Bheemaya namah Om Kavachine namah Om Bhasmo-dhulitha vigrahaya namah Om Sarwagnyaya namah Om Somaya namah Om Gana-nadhaya namah Om Giree-shaya namah Om Giri-priyaaya namah Om Mrutyumjayaya namah Om Mahasena-janakaya namah Om Ahirbhudnyaya namah Om Shudha-vigrahaya namah Om Mrudaya namah Om Haraye namah Om Bhaganetrabhitre namah Om Anantaya namah Om naanavidha parimala pathra pushpaanni samarpyami!!
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Lord Shiva appears in a meditating but ever-happy posture. He has matted hair which holds the Ganges and a crescent moon, a serpent coiled around his neck, a trident (trishul) in his one hand and ashes all over his body. The Lord's attributes represent his victory over the demonic activity, and calmness of human nature. He is known as the"giver" god. His vehicle is a bull (symbol of happiness and strength) named Nandi. Shiva-Linga, a sign of the Lord, is adored instead of Him. Shiva temples have Shiva-Linga as the main deity 
Then came the dreaded poision, Kaalakoota. The gods and demons appealed to Shiva to save them from the fumes that emanated from the poison. Without hesitation, Shiva consumed the poison, and Goddess Parvati retained it in his throat, which turned blue on account of the poison, leading to the name Neelakanta or Vishaapaharana Murthy. This occassion of Lord Shiva saving the Gods, is observed as Pradosha. Pradosha Pooja is very auspicious for Lord shiva
Shiva is inseparable from Shakti - Parvati the daughter of Himavaan - Haimavati. There is no Shiva without Shakti and no Shakti without Shiva, the two are one - or the absolute state of being - consciousness and bliss. 
