Lord Shiva or Siva is considered as the destroyer of the world. Shiva is one of the most popular gods of the Hindu religion. Lord Siva forms the part of the Trimurti (Trinity), the other being Brahma, the creator and Vishnu, the preserver. Shiva is known for the complexity of his nature, representing contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the kind herdsman of souls and a wrathful avenger.
Lord Shiva- The Role
Lord Shiva represents the vital goodness in the form of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram i.e.; Truth, Goodness and Beauty .Lord Shiva performs a celestial role of dissolution and recreation of the universe, that's why; he is mostly associated with the words, like destroyer and destruction. The role of Shiva is often confused with these terms and the difficulty arises, when the significance of his celestial role is not understood.
The conception is clear itself by a slight balance between the opposing forces of good and evil. When this balance gets disturbed and continuation of life becomes unfeasible, Lord Shiva dissolves the universe. This is known as '' pralay '' and it is done in order to create another cycle .So that the unliberated souls will get another opportunity to liberate themselves from the bondage of the material world. To put succinctly, Siva protects the souls from pain and suffering that is generated by the unhealthy universe.
Shiva - The Giver
Lord Shiva is known as the ''giver god'', lord of mercy and kindness. He always protects his devotees from evil forces like lust, greed and anger. He is the most kind -hearted God who grants boons and bestows grace to his devotees.
Shiva - The Image
Lord Shiva has the unclad body covered with ashes symbolizing the transcendental aspect of the universe. Siva's three matted locks represent the integration of the mental, physical and spiritual energies. The crescent moon becomes the part of lord's ornament symbolizing the time cycle through which creation evolves from the beginning to the end. The three eyes of Lord Shiva suggest: the Sun is his right eye, the Moon is the left eye and fire, the third eye.
The Snake around his neck symbolizes the yogic power, which he uses to dissolve and recreate the universe. The Rudraksha necklace worn by the lord shows that he uses his celestial powers without compromise,to maintain law and order. The trishula (trident), symbolizes the Lord's three fundamental powers of will (iccha), action (kriya) and knowledge (gyana).The damaru (drum) and its two sides separated from each other symbolizes the two entirely dissimilar states of existence, invisible and evident.
The bull, Nandi is linked with Shiva and it is considered as his vehicle. The bull symbolizes both power and ignorance. Tiger's skin makes Lord Shiva's clothing and his seat, which illustrates the idea that he is the source of potential energy during the dissolution of the universe. Thus, Lord Shiva is well-regarded as the ultimate organizer of the birth and death in the corporeal world.
Shiva - The Lingam
Story of Shiva Lingam - Why Shiva is worshipped in the Phallic Form
This is an interesting story regarding the worship of Lord Shiva in the phallic form. It is believed that once Brahma and Vishnu, the two deities of the Trinity, got into an argument regarding their supremacy. Lord Brahma declared himself to be more admired, being the creator. While the preserver, Vishnu, pronounced that he commanded more admiration. Just then a huge pillar of fire (lingam), called as Jyotirlinga, appeared in flames, before them. This Lingam enthralled both Brahma and Vishnu, with its hastily increasing size.
With this incident, they forgot their quarrel and decided to find its size. Vishnu took the form of boar and went to the netherworld. Brahma assumed the form of a Swan and flew to the skies. However both of them were unsuccessful in completing the self-assumed tasks. At that time, Shiva appeared out of the lingam and acknowledged that he was the progenitor of both, Brahma and Vishnu. So, he should be worshipped in his phallic (lingam) form, and not in the anthropomorphic form.
Names of Shiva
Lord Shiva is considered as the destroyer of the Universe as per the Hindu Mythology. Shiva is one of the most popular gods of the Hindus. Lord Shiva is a complex god like goddess Kali, being destroyer and restorer at the same time. Shiva is also known as Bhole Shankar, the innocent god, who gets appeased easily. Shiv Shambhu is also recognized as an ascetic, as he resides on Mount Kailash in meditation. God Shiv is worshipped usually in his phallic (Lingam) form. Special Worship of Shiva can be seen during the month of Saawan (July-August) of Hinduism. Lord Shiva is known by many different names. This list contains 108 names of Lord Shiva with their meanings:
| Names | Meanings |
| Aashutosh | One Who Fulfills Wishes at once |
| Aja | Unborn |
| Akshayaguna | God with Numberless Attributes |
| Anagha | Without Any error |
| Anantadrishti | of Infinite Vision |
| Augadh | One Who Revels All the Time |
| Avyayaprabhu | Everlasting Lord |
| Bhairav | Lord of Terror |
| Bhalanetra | One Who Has an Eye in the Forehead |
| Bholenath | Kind Hearted Lord |
| Bhooteshwara | Lord of Ghosts and Evil Beings |
| Bhudeva | Lord of the Earth |
| Bhutapala | Protector of the Ghosts |
| Chandrapal | Master Of The Moon |
| Chandraprakash | One Who Has Moon As A Crest |
| Dayalu | Compassionate |
| Devadeva | Lord Of The Lords |
| Dhanadeepa | Lord Of Affluence |
| Dhyanadeep | Icon Of Meditation And Concentration |
| Dhyutidhara | Lord Of Radiance |
| Digambara | Ascetic Without Any Clothes |
| Durjaneeya | Difficult To Be Known |
| Durjaya | Unvanquished |
| Gangadhara | God Of River Ganga |
| Girijapati | Husband Of Girija (Parvati) |
| Gunagrahin | Acceptor Of Gunas |
| Gurudeva | Master Of All |
| Hara | Remover Of Sins |
| Jagadisha | Master Of The Universe |
| Jaradhishamana | Redeemer From Afflictions |
| Jatin | One Who Has Knotted Hair |
| Kailas | One Who Bestows Peace |
| Kailashadhipati | Lord Of Mount Kailash |
| Kailashnath | Master Of Mount Kailash |
| Kamalakshana | Lotus-Eyed Lord |
| Kantha | Ever-Radiant |
| Kapalin | One WhoWears A Necklace Of Skulls |
| Khatvangin | One Who Has The Missile (Khatvangin) In His Hand |
| Kundalin | One Who Wears Earrings |
| Lalataksha | One Who Has An Eye In The Forehead |
| Lingadhyaksha | Lord Of The Lingas |
| Lingaraja | Lord Of The Lingas |
| Lokankara | Maker Of The Three Worlds |
| Lokapal | One Who Takes Care Of The World |
| Mahabuddhi | Exceptionally Intelligent |
| Mahadeva | Greatest God |
| Mahakala | Lord Of All Times |
| Mahamaya | Of Great Illusions |
| Mahamrityunjaya | Great Victor Of Death |
| Mahanidhi | Great Storehouse |
| Mahashaktimaya | One Who Has Infinite Powers |
| Mahayogi | Supreme of All Gods |
| Mahesha | The Almighty |
| Maheshwara | Lord of the Lords |
| Nagabhushana | One Who Has Snakes as Ornaments |
| Nataraja | King of the Art of Dancing |
| Nilakantha | Blue Necked Lord |
| Nityasundara | Ever Beautiful |
| Nrityapriya | Lover of Dance |
| Omkara | Originator of OM |
| Palanhaar | One Who Protects Everyone |
| Parameshwara | First among All Gods |
| Paramjyoti | Greatest Splendor |
| Pashupati | Lord of All Living Beings |
| Pinakin | One Who Has a Bow In His Hand |
| Pranava | Originator of the Syllable of OM |
| Priyabhakta | Favorite of the Devotees |
| Priyadarshana | of Loving Vision |
| Pushkara | One Who Gives Nourishment |
| Pushpalochana | One Who Has Eyes like Flowers |
| Ravilochana | Having Sun as the Eye |
| Rudra | the Dreadful |
| Rudraksha | One Who Has Eyes like Rudra |
| Sadashiva | Eternal God |
| Sanatana | Eternal Lord |
| Sarvacharya | Preceptor of All |
| Sarvashiva | Always Chaste |
| Sarvatapana | Scorcher of All |
| Sarvayoni | Source of Everything |
| Sarveshwara | Lord of All Gods |
| Shambhu | One Who Bestows Prosperity |
| Shankara | One Who Gives Happiness |
| Shiva | Always Pure |
| Shoolin | One Who Has a Trident (Trishool) |
| Shrikantha | of Magnificent Neck |
| Shrutiprakasha | Illuminator of the Vedas |
| Shuddhavigraha | One Who Has a Pure Body |
| Skandaguru | Preceptor of Skanda |
| Someshwara | Lord of All Gods |
| Sukhada | Bestower of Happiness |
| Suprita | Well Pleased |
| Suragana | Having Gods As Attendants |
| Sureshwara | Lord Of All Gods |
| Swayambhu | Self-Manifested |
| Tejaswani | One Who Spreads Illumination |
| Trilochana | Three-Eyed Lord |
| Trilokpati | Master of All the Three Worlds |
| Tripurari | Enemy of Tripura |
| Trishoolin | One Who Has a Trident in His Hands |
| Umapati | Husband of Uma (Parvati) |
| Vachaspati | Lord of Speech |
| Vajrahasta | One Who Has a Thunderbolt in His Hands |
| Varada | Granter of Boons |
| Vedakarta | Creator of the Vedas |
| Veerabhadra | Supreme Lord of the Nether World |
| Vishalaksha | Wide-Eyed Lord s |
| Vishveshwara | Lord of the Universe |
| Vrishavahana | One Who Has Bull as His Mount |
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