Shiva is one of the three principal forms of the divine in Hinduism, embodying destruction not as violence but as the clearing away of what is outworn so that renewal becomes possible. He is Mahadev, the great god, often depicted in deep meditation atop Mount Kailash, with the crescent moon in his hair and the sacred Ganga flowing from his head.

Shiva is approached for inner stillness, for release from fear — including the fear of death — and for the courage to let go of what no longer serves. His most chanted mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, is one of the oldest in continuous use in human history, appearing in the Krishna Yajurveda. Mondays are traditionally observed as days of Shiva worship, and Maha Shivaratri, "the great night of Shiva," is among the most significant festivals dedicated to him.

Lord Hanuman · Lord Ganesha · Goddess Lakshmi · Lord Krishna