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Lord
Shiva is the Destroyer God of the Trimurti. He destroies the world at the
end of each Kalpa. Shiva is the great ascetic whose meditation keeps the
world in existence, is also the protector of animals. Lord Shiva appears
in a meditating posture, ashes all over his body. He has matted hair which
holds the flowing Ganga and a crescent Moon, on the front are the Third
Eye and the symbols of Shivaism. A serpent coiled is around his neck, in
one hand he carries a trishula (trident), in his other hand he plays damaru
(a two sided finger drum). His body is adorned with garlands of naga (snake).
He is the Lord of Procreation, and the Shiva-Lingam, the phallus of the
Lord, is adored instead of him. Shiva represents the supreme consiusness
as well the male principle, which acquire the power to create and destroy
the elements only in conjuntion with Shakti, the female principle. Shiva's
consort is kown as Parvati, Shakti, or Kali, and personified the divine
power of feminility. His Vahana (vehicle) is Nandi, a bull. |