Śiva ( /ˈʃɪvə/; Sanskŗta: शिव Śiva, meaning "auspicious one") is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimūrti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Śiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a sage at Mount Kailāṣa.[2] In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Śiva is seen as the Supreme God. In the Smarta tradition, he is regarded as one of the five primary forms of God.[3] Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Śiva are called Shaivites or Shaivas (Sanskrit Śaiva).[4] Shaivism, along with Vaiṣṇava traditions that focus on Viṣņu and Śākta traditions that focus on the goddess Śakti, is one of the most influential denominations in Hinduism.[3]
Lord Śiva is usually worshipped in the abstract form of Shiva linga. In images, He is represented as a handsome[5] young man[6] immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon Apasmara, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Naţarāja, the Lord of the dance, goodness, humility, and every good quality a human should have. It is said that He looks like an eternal youth because of his authority over death, rebirth and immortality. He is also the father of Gaņeśa, Murugan (Kartikeya), and Ayyappan (Dharma Sastha).
