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Lord Thyagaraja

Shiva
Shiva cropped.jpg
Devanagari शिव
Sanskrit transliteration Śiva
Affiliation Supreme Being (Shaivism), Trimurti, Deva
Abode Mount Kailash
Mantra Om Namah Shivaya
Weapon Trishula, Pashupatastra
Symbols Lingam
Mount Nandi
Festivals Maha Shivaratri
Personal Information
Consort Parvati (Durga, Kali)
Children Ganesha, Kartikeya, Ashokasundari,
Regional: Jyoti, Manasa

Shiva (/ˈʃivə/; IAST: Śiva, lit. the auspicious one) is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being within Shaivism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.

Shiva is the "destroyer and transformer" within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity that includes Brahma and Vishnu. In Shaivism tradition, Shiva is the Supreme being who creates, protects and transforms the universe. In the goddess tradition of Hinduism called Shaktism, the goddess is described as supreme, yet Shiva is revered along with Vishnu and Brahma. A goddess is stated to be the energy and creative power (Shakti) of each, with Parvati the equal complementary partner of Shiva. He is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism.

At the highest level, Shiva is regarded as formless, limitless, transcendent and unchanging absolute Brahman, and the primal Atman (soul, self) of the universe. Shiva has many benevolent and fearsome depictions. 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. In his fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons. Shiva is also known as Adiyogi Shiva, regarded as the patron god of yoga, meditation and arts.


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