Shiva is a pan-Hindu deity, revered widely by Hindus, in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia (especially in Java and Bali). He is usually worshipped in the aniconic form of lingam. The iconographical attributes of Shiva are the serpent around his neck, the adorning crescent moon, the holy river Ganga flowing from his matted hair, the third eye on his forehead, the trishula or trident, as his weapon, and the damaru drum. Shiva is also known as Adiyogi Shiva, regarded as the patron god of yoga, meditation and arts. In his fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons. 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. There are many both benevolent and fearsome depictions of Shiva. Shiva is the primal Atman (Self) of the universe. He is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism. A goddess is stated to be the energy and creative power (Shakti) of each, with Parvati ( Sati) the equal complementary partner of Shiva. In the Shakta tradition, the Goddess, or Devi, is described as one of the supreme, yet Shiva is revered along with Vishnu and Brahma. In the Shaivite tradition, Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe.

Shiva is known as 'The Destroyer' within the Trimurti, the triple deity of supreme divinity that includes Brahma and Vishnu. Shiva has pre-Vedic tribal roots, and the figure of Shiva as we know him today is an amalgamation of various older non-Vedic and Vedic deities, including the Rigvedic storm god Rudra who may also have non-Vedic origins, into a single major deity. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Lord Shiva is said to be the deity of death and time. Shiva ( / Л€ Кѓ ЙЄ v Й™/ Sanskrit: а¤¶а¤їа¤µ, romanized: Ељiva, lit.'The Auspicious One' ), also known as Mahadeva ( / Л€ m Й™ h Й‘Лђ d Й› v Й™/ Sanskrit: а¤®а¤№а¤ѕа¤¦аҐ‡а¤µ:, romanized: MahДЃdevaбёҐ, lit.'The Great God' ), is one of the principal deities of Hinduism.

Maha Shivaratri, Shraavana, Kartik Purnima, Bhairava Ashtami Lingam, Crescent Moon, Damaru (Drum), Vasuki Trishula (Trident), Pashupatastra, Parashu-Axe, Pinaka bow Trimurti, Ishvara, Parabrahman & Paramatman ( Shaivism) Shankara, Bholenath, Mahesha, Mahadeva, Rudra, Sadashiva

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