Shiva
The Destroyer & Transformer
The destroyer who dissolves the universe for rebirth. Lord of meditation, dance, and transformation. Worshipped across Telangana as Mallikarjuna of Srisailam.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: శివుడు
- Also known as: Mahadeva, Neelakantha, Nataraja, Bholenath, Mallikarjuna
- Vehicle (vahana): Nandi (నంది)
- Weapons: Trishulam, Damarukam
- Symbols: Third eye, Crescent moon, Nagam around neck, Ganga in jata
Story
Shiva Deva is the most complex deity - simultaneously a tapasvi meditating on Kailasam and a grihastha devoted to Parvati Devi. He drank the halahalam poison during Samudra Manthanam to save all of creation, turning his throat blue - earning the name Neelakantha. As Nataraja, he performs the cosmic Tandavam. For Telugu people, Srisailam (one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and an 18 Shakti Peeth) is the most sacred Shiva temple. The Mallikarjuna Swamy temple on Nallamala hills draws millions during Shivaratri. In Telangana, Shiva is also Thousand Pillar Temple's Rudreshwara in Warangal and Keesaragutta near Hyderabad.
Fun fact
Shiva's third eye can destroy anything. When Manmadha (the god of love) tried to disturb his meditation, Shiva burned him to ashes with one glance - this story is celebrated every Holi as Kama Dahanam.
Family and connections
- Consort: Parvati
- Consort: Sati (first consort, reborn as Parvati)
- Child: Ganesha
- Child: Kartikeya
- Child: Durga (fierce form of Parvati)
- Child: Kali (fierce form of Parvati)