

The word Shiva is used as an adjective in the Rig Veda ( c. The root words of śiva in folk etymology are śī which means "in whom all things lie, pervasiveness" and va which means "embodiment of grace". 6th century CEĪccording to Monier Monier-Williams, the Sanskrit word " śiva" ( Devanagari: शिव, also transliterated as shiva) means "auspicious, propitious, gracious, benign, kind, benevolent, friendly".
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Part of a series onĪn ancient sculpture of Shiva at the Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra. Shiva is a pan-Hindu deity, revered widely by Hindus in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia (especially in Java and Bali). Shiva has pre-Vedic roots, and the figure of Shiva evolved as 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 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 eye that turns everything in front of it into ashes when opened), 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 the 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 his wife Parvati and his three children, Ganesha, Kartikeya and Ashokasundari. Shiva has many aspects, benevolent as well as fearsome. Shiva is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism. In the goddess-oriented Shakta tradition, the Supreme Goddess ( Devi) is regarded as the energy and creative power (Shakti) and the equal complementary partner of Shiva. 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 Hindu trinity which also includes Brahma and Vishnu. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Shiva ( / ˈ ʃ ɪ v ə/ Tamil: சிவன், romanized: Sivaṉ, lit.'The Red One' Sanskrit: शिव, romanized: Śiva, lit.'The Auspicious One' ), also known as Mahadeva ( / m ə ˈ h ɑː ˈ d eɪ v ə/ Sanskrit: महादेव:, romanized: Mahādevaḥ, lit.'The Great God' ), or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. Maha Shivaratri, Shraavana, Kartik Purnima, Bhairava Ashtami Lingam, Crescent Moon, Damaru (Drum), Vasuki Trishula, Pashupatastra, Parashu, Pinaka bow Trimurti, Ishvara, Parabrahman and Paramatman ( Shaivism) Shankara, Bholenath, Maheśvara, Mahadeva, Rudra, Mahakala, Sadashiva, Batara Siwa, Nataraja

Para Brahman, the Supreme Being Ultimate Reality, Moksha, Karma, Time, Arts, Dance, Yoga and Meditation, the Destroyer of Evil, Supreme Being in Shaivism
