Lord Shiva is a Hindu deity and represents the aspect of the Supreme Being. The meaning of the Sanskrit word Shiva is 'pure and destroyer'. According to Hindu mythology, Shiva is the destroyer among the Trimurti. He is the god of the Yogis and described as an omniscient Yogi, who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash. Shiva is known by several names - Mahadeva, Pashupati, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhole Nath, Shambhu and Shankar. Shiva is the cosmic dancer and also known as Nataraja, the Lord of Dancers. Hindus recognize Lord Shiva by putting His shrine in the temple separate from those of other deities in the form of Shivling.
There are certain attributes that are common to all pictures and images of Shiva venerated by Hindus which makes him distinct from other deities. His matted hair piled high on the top of His head with a crescent moon tucked to it and the river Ganges flowing out from His hairs. A coiled serpent can be seen around His neck or wrist and He is depicted with blue throat. In His left hand He holds a Trishul, a trident with a drum tied to it. He sits on a tiger skin and shown with a Kamandal, a water pot, on His right side. He wears the Rudraksha beads and His unclad body is smeared with ash. He has a third eye on His forehead.