Shiva aka Bholenath aka Nataraja ( / ˈ ʃ ɪ v ə /; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, meaning "auspicious one") is the supreme God of Shaivism. In the Smarta tradition, he is regarded as one of the five primary forms of God. Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Shiva are called Shaivites or Shaivas (Sanskrit Śaiva). Shaivism, along with Vaiṣṇava traditions that focus on Vishnu and Śākta traditions that focus on the goddess Shakti, is one of the most influential denominations in Hinduism.

Lord Shiva is usually worshipped in the abstract form of Shiva linga. In images, He is represented as a handsome young man immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon Apasmara, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the Lord of the dance, goodness, humility, and every good quality a human should have. It is said that He looks like an eternal youth because of his authority over death, rebirth and immortality. He is also the father of Ganesha, Murugan (Kartikeya), and Ayyappan (Dharma Sastha).

Noun

shiva (plural shivas)

1. a weeklong period of formal mourning for a close relative

Derived terms

• sit shiva

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