Shiva , also known as Mahadeva (“Great God”), is a popular Hindu deity. Shiva is regarded as
one of
the primary forms of God. He is the Supreme God within Shaivism, one of the three most influential
denominations in contemporary Hinduism. He is one of the five primary forms of God in the Smarta
tradition, and “the Destroyer” or “the Transformer” among the Trimurti, the Hindu
Trinity of the
primary aspects of the divine.
Shiva is also regarded as the patron god of yoga and arts. The main iconographical attributes of
Shiva are the third eye on his forehead, the snake Vasuki 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. Temples of Lord
Shiva are called shivalayam.