Lord Shiva was the third deity of the Hindu triad of great gods, the Trimurti. Shiva is called the Destroyer (of evil) but has also the aspect of regeneration. As destroyer he is dark and terrible, appearing as a partially naked ascetic accompanied by many hideous demons, encircled with serpents and necklaces of skulls. As auspicious and reproductive power, he is worshipped in the form of the shivling or shivalinga (lingam). Shiva is depicted with a dark-blue throat, with several arms and three eyes. He is portrayed carrying a trident and rides a white bull.

Shiva is referred to as `the good one` or the `auspicious one`. Shiva - Rudra is considered to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Shiva - Shankara is the doer of good.

Shiva is `trinetra` or three eyed, and is `neela kantha` - blue throat (having consumed poison to save the world from destruction. Shiva - Nataraja is the Divine Cosmic Dancer. Shiva - Ardhanareeswara is both man and woman.

He is depicted as both destroyer and creator. He is the oldest and the youngest; he is the eternal youth as well as the infant. He is the source of fertility in all-living beings. He has gentle as well as fierce forms. Shiva is the greatest of renouncers as well as the ideal lover. He destroys evil and protects good. He bestows prosperity on worshipers although he is austere. He is omnipresent and resides in everyone as pure consciousness.

Shiva is inseparable from Shakti - Parvati the daughter of Himavaan and Haimavati. There is no Shiva without Shakti and no Shakti without Shiva; the two are one - or the absolute state of being - consciousness and bliss.

The main attributes of Lord Shiva:
The Third Eye: The Third eye of Shiva on his forehead is the eye of wisdom. It is the eye that looks beyond the visible. The third eye of Shiva is also popularly associated with his immense energy, which destroys the evil doers and sins.

The Cobra Necklace: Shiva is beyond the powers of death and is often the sole support in case of distress. He swallowed the poison kalketu for the well being of the Universe. The deadly cobra represents that "death" aspect which Shiva has thoroughly conquered. The cobras around his neck also represent the dormant energy, called Kundalini, the serpent power and it also represents creation and the journey from one body to other just like the snake sheds its skin.

Matted hair (Jata): The flow of his matted hair represents him as the lord of wind or Vayu, who is the subtle form of breath present in all living beings. Thus it is Lord Shiva that is the lifeline for all living being. He is Pashupatinath.

Crescent: Shiva bears on his head the crescent of the fifth day (panchami) moon. This is placed near the fiery third eye and shows the power of Soma, the sacrificial offering, which is the representative of moon. It means that Shiva possesses the power of procreation along with the power of destruction. The moon is also a measure of time thus the Crescent also represents his control over time.

Sacred Ganga: Ganga, the holiest of the holy rivers, flows from the matted hair of Shiva. Shiva allowed an outlet to the great river to traverse the earth and bring purifying water to human being. The flowing water is one of the five elements, which compose the whole Universe and from which earth arises. Ganga also denotes fertility one of the creative aspect of the Rudra.

The Drum: The drum in the hand of Shiva is the originator of the universal world, which is the source of all the language and expression.

The Tripundakara: Tripundakara is three lines of ashes drawn on the forehead that represents the essence of our Being, which remains after all the impurities of ignorance, ego and action and vasanas that have been burnt in the fire of knowledge. Hence it is revered as the very form of Shiva and signifies the Immortality of the soul and manifested glory of the Lord.

The Ashes: Shiva smears his body with cemetery ashes that points the philosophy of the life and death and the fact that death is the ultimate reality of the life.

Tiger skin: The tiger is the vehicle of Shakti, the goddess of power and force. Shiva is beyond and above any kind of force. He is the master of Shakti. The tiger skin that he wears symbolizes victory over every force. Tigers also represent lust. Thus sitting on Tiger skin, Shiva indicates that he has conquered lust.

Rudraksha: Shiva Rudraksha is supposed to have medicinal properties.

The Trident: The three head of Shiva`s Trishul symbolizes three functions of the triad - the creation, the sustenance and the destruction.