Lord Shiva: Hindu God of Destruction

Shiva is one of the most widely known and revered Hindu gods. In fact, Hinduism can generally be broken down into two groups; those that consider Shiva to be the Universal god, and those that consider Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna to be the supreme deity.

Shiva is one of the Holy Trinity of Hinduism, with the gods Brahma (the Creator) and vishnu (the sustainer) thought to be the others. It is believe that Lord Shiva evolved from the earlier Hindu God Rudra, and is normally associated with destruction. However, he is also associated with reincarnation, since in Hinduism death is believed to be a necessar step for rebirth.

But Shiva has different aspects that appear at different times. Shiva is often depicted as the destroyer, and will appear as a naked ascetic accompanied by demons, encircled with serpents and necklaces of skulls. Sometimes Shiva wanders into crematoriums, smears his body with ash and dances in the light of the funeral pyres, reminding all about the transitory nature of material things.

Sometimes the creative force of Shiva is depicted, and in particular Shiva is represented by a phallus, known as the linga. Other times Shiva is seen in statues as the god of meditation and asceticism. He will be depicted sitting cross-legged with his eyes half-closed.

Another common form is that of Dancing Shiva Nataraja. This is Shiva engaged in a cosmic dance. It is believed that the energy from this dance sustains the cosmos, and when Shiva is finished with this dance, this universe will end and a new one will begin.

Shiva Symbols

Snakes are often associated with Shiva, since they are able to regenerate their skins by discarding their old ones. Likewise, in southern India, deer are associated with Shiva because their antlers re-grow after falling out. Shiva is also associated with the rainy season, as the monsoon rains transform the ground from dessert into vertile valley.

The Weapons of Shiva

Many Hindu Gods and Goddesses carry weapons, and Shiva is often depicted carrying a trident, and the three tips of this weapon represent the creation, protection (or sustaining), and destruction of the universe. He might be carrying an ax, which is to symbolize the severing of ties to the material world.