Shiva

Shiva (meaning "The Auspicious One"), also known as Parameshwara ("Supreme Deity") and Mahadeva ("Great Deity"), is a popular Hindu deity. Shiva is regarded as one of the primary forms of Brahman. He is the Supreme Deity within Shaivism, one of the three most influential denominations in Hinduism. He is one of the five primary forms of Brahman in the Smarta tradition, and "the Destroyer" or "the Transformer" among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine.
Shiva has many benevolent and fearsome forms. At the highest level Shiva is limitless, transcendent, unchanging and formless. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash, as well as a householder with wife Parvati and His two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya, or as the Cosmic Dancer. In fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons. Shiva is also regarded as the patron deity of yoga and arts.
The main iconographical attributes of Shiva are the third eye on his forehead, a snake around his neck, the crescent moon adorning, the holy river Ganga flowing from his matted hair, the trishula as his weapon and the damaru as his instrument.
Shiva is usually worshiped in the aniconic form of Lingam.
Category:Deities
Category:Destroyer deities
Category:Hindu deities
Category:Triple deities
Category:Justice deities