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| Shiva | |
|---|---|
| Member of Trimurti | |
 Shiva and Parvati on Nandi | |
| Affiliation | Parabrahman (Shaivism), Trimurti |
| Abode | Kailash |
| Mantra | Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Namah |
| Weapon | Trishula[3] |
| Mount | Nandi (bull) |
| Festivals | Maha Shivaratri, Hariyali Teej, Ardra Dharshana |
| Consorts | Parvati[3] |
Shiva is a major god in Hinduism and one of the chief gods as a member of the Trimurti. Shiva is causeless auspiciousness. Shiva is also known as the Maharudra (the great Rudra). Shiva is an embodiment of ultimate space of enlightenment. He assumed human form to guide humans in the past and thus, he is also known as Adiguru (the first teacher).
His space of enlightenment is what all spiritual seekers aspire for. All enlightened sages live in this space of Shiva. Shiva is the destroyer god of this complete universe because he destroys all evils in the world. His wife is the goddess Parvati.
According to Hindu mythology, he had a blue neck because he drunk and burned his snake Vasuki's poison to ashes and spread it through the universe in order to save the universe during the churning of the ocean with the use of Vishnu's powers completely.[4] He has three eyes, the third eye is on his forehead. Shiva is one of the Trimurti, including Brahma and Vishnu. Shiva lives in the Mount Kailash with his two sons by Parvati, Kartikeya and Ganesha, who are known as the Bestower of Siddhis and the Remover of Obstacles. There is a statue of Shiva in Bangalore which is a great tourist attraction.[5]
- ↑ Wendy Doniger (1999). Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam-Webster. p. 1134. ISBN 978-0-87779-044-0.
- ↑ Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2008). Encyclopedia of World Religions. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. pp. 445–448. ISBN 978-1-59339-491-2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Constance Jones; James D. Ryan (2006). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Infobase Publishing. pp. 491–492. ISBN 978-0-8160-7564-5.
- ↑ Vijayeendra Teertha. Shaiva Sarvasva Khandanam.
- ↑ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.