Lord Shiva
Specialties : According to Shiva Purana, The Supreme Lord is Shiva, the original God, Shiva is the destroyer. Destruction does not only mean ending, but also removing the old and giving birth to the new. Shiva is responsible for destroying ego and ignorance and granting salvation to the living entity. The Trinetram (third eye) of the Supreme Lord is not just a physical organ, it is a symbol of supreme knowledge and power.
Famous Temple : 1). Twelve Jyotirlingas-(12)
2). Panchabhuta Lingas (Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh)
Perents: No parents, Unborn, Self-Manifested, Supreme Origin
Divine Consort : Goddess Sati Devi, Parvati Devi
Children:
Sons : Sons : Ganesha, Kumara swamy/subhramanya swamy
Daughter : Asokasundari, Jyoti, Manasa Devi
Siblings: none
Abode: Mount Kailash, Shiva is also known as the 'dweller of the graveyard'. He resides in the graveyard and is covered in ashes (vibhuti). He reminds us of the ultimate truth that every living being born must eventually turn into ashes, and that life is temporary. He resides in a place that the whole world hates, and is a refuge for the orphaned souls who reside there.
Aliases: According to the Shiva Sahasranama, Shiva has 1000 names, among which the most important are: Ishwar, Shiva, Mahadev, Parameshwara, Hara, Sadashiva, Kashi Vishwanath, Bhimashankar, Kedareshwar, Shankar, Neelkantha, Mukkanti, Pashupati……...
Vehicle: Nandi (Bull)
Weapon: Trident, Pasupatastra, Parashu, Pinaka (bow),
Festivals of Shiva: 1.Maha Shivaratri: Maha Shivaratri is observed by fasting throughout the day, maintaining a night-long vigil, and performing sacred Abhishekam to the Shiva Lingam.
2. Karthika Somavaralu: During Karthika Somavaralu, devotees believe that offering prayers to Lord Shiva and observing a fast on these auspicious Mondays purifies the soul and washes away past sins.
3. Karthika Purnima: This day is celebrated as the day Lord Shiva destroyed the Tripurasuras. Lighting of lamps (Deeparadhana) is performed extensively in Shiva temples.
Birth Secret: Hinduism says that the Supreme Lord is 'Ajanmu' (unborn) and 'Swayambhu' (self-originated). Shiva has no parents. That is why he is called "Anadi" (beginningless). The Supreme Lord, the form of Parabrahmam, is not a person, he is a power.
Death: Eternal / Immortal.
Biography: The great message that Shiva's life gives us is that despite all the opulence, we should remain simple (vairagya), and that we should bear the hardships of the world (visha) and give happiness (amrit) to others. Shiva first married Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati. But when Daksha insulted Shiva, Sati sacrificed her body in the fire of yoga. Shiva, enraged, created Veerabhadra with his hair and destroyed the Daksha Yajna. Later, while carrying the body of Sati, while performing the Tandava performed by Shiva, Lord Vishnu destroyed the body with his Sudarshana Chakra for the welfare of the world. Wherever those body parts fell, a different power emerged. At those places, Shiva, in the form of Bhairava, protects the mother.