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 th