Shiva (portrait)

Shiva -(Śiva, /ˈʃɪvə/, "The Auspicious One") also commonly known as Mahadeva and Shankara

is a popular Hindu god and is venerated as the Supreme Being within Shaivism,
one of the three most influential denominations in Hinduism. In several branches of Hinduism
other than Shaivism, Shiva is regarded as one of the primary forms of God, such as 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 usually worshipped in the aniconic form of Lingam. Shiva has many benevolent as well as fearsome forms.
He is often depicted as immersed in deep meditation, with his wife and children or as the Cosmic Dancer.
In fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons.

In the Yajurveda, two contrary sets of attributes for both malignant or terrific (Sanskrit: rudra) and benign
or auspicious (Sanskrit: śiva) forms can be found, leading Chakravarti to conclude that "all the basic elements
which created the complex Rudra-Śiva sect of later ages are to be found here". In the Mahabharata,
Shiva is depicted as "the standard of invincibility, might, and terror", as well as a figure of honor, delight, and brilliance.
The duality of Shiva's fearful and auspicious attributes appears in contrasted names.

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