Shiva: Difference between revisions

{{IndicTextRight}}

'''Shiva''' ({{ IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|ʃ|ɪ|v|ə}}; [[Sanskrit]]: शिव ''{{IAST|Śiva}}'', meaning "auspicious one") is a major [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Hindu deities|deity]], and is the destroyer god or transformer among the [[Trimurti]], the [[Hindu Trinity]] of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva 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 Kailash.<ref>Zimmer (1972) p. 124.</ref> In the [[Shaiva]] tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God. In the [[Smarta]] tradition, he is regarded as one of [[Panchayatana puja|the five primary forms of God]].<ref name="Flood 1996, p. 17">Flood (1996), p. 17.</ref> Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Shiva are called [[Shaivite]]s or Shaivas (Sanskrit {{IAST|Śaiva}}).<ref>Tattwananda, p. 45.</ref> [[Shaivism]], along with {{IAST|[[Vaishnavism|Vaiṣṇava]]}} traditions that focus on [[Vishnu]] and {{IAST|[[Shaktism|Śākta]]}} traditions that focus on the [[Devi|goddess]] {{IAST|[[Shakti]]}}, is one of the most influential denominations in Hinduism.<ref name="Flood 1996, p. 17"/>

Lord Shiva is usually worshipped in the abstract form of [[Shiva linga]]. In images, He is represented as a handsome<ref>http://www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us/hmhs/academics/english/parvatithediversegoddess.htm</ref> young man<ref>http://www.yousigma.com/religionandphilosophy/deities/lordshiva.html</ref> immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon [[Apasmara]], the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of [[Nataraja]], 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 [[Ganesha]], [[Murugan]] (Kartikeya), and [[Ayyappan]] (Dharma Sastha).