Lord Shiva, also known as Mahadev (“the great god”), is one of the three principal deities of Hinduism, forming the Trimurti along with Brahma the creator and Vishnu the preserver. Shiva represents the power of destruction and transformation — dissolving the universe at the end of each cosmic cycle so that creation can begin anew. Far from being a purely destructive force, Shiva’s destruction is regenerative: he destroys ignorance, ego, and impurity to make way for renewal and spiritual liberation (moksha). Shiva is worshipped in many forms — as the ascetic yogi meditating in the Himalayas, as Nataraja the cosmic dancer, as the benevolent householder alongside Parvati and their sons, and as the formless, infinite Shivalinga. He is called Ashutosh, “one who is easily pleased,” and is beloved for granting boons readily to sincere devotees, whether gods, demons, or ordinary people. Different traditions describe Shiva differently: in Shaivism he is worshipped as the Supreme Being itself; in the broader Smarta and Puranic tradition he is one of the five principal deities of daily worship (Panchayatana puja) alongside Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, and Surya.