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ENहिं
Shiva
DeityShaivism

Shiva: Weapons & Symbols

शिव

The destroyer and transformer; lord of yogis and of the cosmic dance. Also called Mahadeva, Shankara, Shambhu, Rudra, Neelakantha, Pashupati, Bholenath, Maheshvara, Nataraja, Mahakala.

Om Jai Shiv Omkara

Shiva is Mahadeva, the great god of Hinduism and the destroyer and transformer in the Trimurti. He meditates on Mount Kailash with Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, wears the moon and the Ganga in his hair, and dances as Nataraja. Shaivas worship him, above all in the linga, as the Supreme Being.

Updated 23 Oct 20268 sources

RoleThe destroyer and transformer; lord of yogis and of the cosmic dance
ConsortParvati
MountNandi
SerpentVasuki
WeaponsTrishula, Pinaka
ObjectsDamaru

Iconography and symbolism

Shiva is shown with a third eye, matted locks bearing the crescent moon and the Ganga, a blue throat, ash-smeared skin, serpents around his neck, and a tiger skin. He holds the trident Trishula and the drum Damaru, and carries the bow Pinaka in his warrior forms; his mount is the bull Nandi. Tradition reads the trident as the three gunas or the three times, the moon as time measured and mastered, the Ganga as grace and purification, and the ash as the impermanence of all that is material.

Trishulaत्रिशूलWeaponThe Trishula is the three-pointed trident of Shiva, his principal weapon and symbol. Its prongs are read as creation, preservation and dissolution, or the three gunas…PinakaपिनाकWeaponPinaka is the mighty bow of Shiva, who is therefore called Pinakin and Pinakapani. With it he destroyed the three flying cities of the asuras as…DamaruडमरूObjectThe damaru is the small hourglass-shaped drum of Shiva, held in Nataraja's upper right hand. Its sound stands for the rhythm of creation, and tradition holds…VasukiवासुकिSerpentVasuki is a king of the nagas and the serpent who coils around Shiva's neck. A son of Kashyapa and Kadru and brother of Shesha, he…NandiनंदीMountNandi is the sacred bull who carries Shiva and guards the gate of Kailash as chief of Shiva's ganas. Born to the sage Shilada through Shiva's…
चन्द्रCrescent moonOrnamentThe moon in Shiva's hair, which gives him the name Chandrashekhara and shows time measured and mastered.
गंगाGangaRiverThe heavenly river caught in his locks, the flow of grace and purification.
रुद्राक्षRudrakshaBeadsSeeds said to have sprung from Shiva's tears, worn by his devotees.
विभूतिVibhutiSacred ashThe ash on his body, a reminder that everything material ends as ash.

Meanings are given as tradition holds them, not as scripture.

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Avatars & formsHanumanहनुमानPlaces & templesKedarnathकेदारनाथStories & mythsThe Birth of Ganeshaगणेश का जन्मChildrenGaneshaगणेशAartis & mantrasOm Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकाराWeaponsTrishulaत्रिशूलSerpentVasukiवासुकिConsortParvatiपार्वतीMountNandiनंदीObjectsDamaruडमरूAbodeKailashकैलाशFestivalsMaha Shivaratriमहाशिवरात्रि