Shiva

Destruction & Time

Shiva is the god of destruction and transformation, the facilitator of the cyclical renewal of the universe. But this is not seen as negative destruction rather as a necessary step for rebirth—he dismantles the old to make way for the new! As the final member of the Trimurti, Shiva destroys and transforms creation at the end of each cycle. Both for his destructive power and serene wisdom, Shiva is associated most with Wylrith, the most revered element in Bharatavarsa and the Frozen Wastes! Alternately, some place Azryth into this role. Either way, Shiva is a paradoxical deity embodying the duality of existance, representing both creation and destruction, fierceness and innocence, immense passion and serene detachment. Both fearsome and benevolent, Shiva is an all knowing and austere yogi while also being a fierce warrior and slayer of asura. Shiva is also known as Adiyogi, the first yogi, making him the patron of yoga and meditation. He is prone to withdrawing from and denouncing earthly pleasures, descending into ascetic isolation. Breaking his concentration is ill-advised, having once turned Kamadeva to ash for doing so! It is only his wife Parvati who can draw him back to the material world, grounding him with the joys of family and home. Parvati is the goddess of power, marriage and devotion, famous for being the ideal mother and wife. Together, these two represent the balance between masculine and feminine energies as well as between a religious lifestyle and one revolving around family. This family includes two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, which represent auspiciousness and war. However, Shiva and Parvati have several manifestations which they either transform into or who spring from their bodies like Brahma's Manasaputras! Shiva's manifestations include Pashupati and Rudra.

Depiction Shiva is depicted with the serpent king Vasuki around his neck, a third eye and dreadlocks or braids. He rarely opens his third eye, Tryambakam, as anything it sees is reduced to ash! His hair is adorned by a Candrasekhara -a crescent moon- while the Ganga river itself flows from his hair. These represent his insight, asceticism, wisdom and control over time. He takes up a yoga pose or meditates while sitting on a tiger skin. In his hands are a trishula trident and damaru drum, Shiva himself usually covered in funeral ashes. This is a reminder that all life eventually ends and returns to ash! Meanwhile his vahana is the divine bull Nandi or Nandikeshvara, representing his strength and virility.