Samudra Manthan
Why Shiva drank the Halahala poison
When the churning of the ocean released a poison that could end the world, only one god stepped forward — and his throat turned blue forever.
Hindu Deities • Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva
महादेव
The Mahadev. The destroyer and transformer. The eternal yogi who represents consciousness, creation and the infinite cycle of existence.
Also known as
Mahadev, Shankar, Bholenath
Consort
Goddess Parvati
Sacred day
Monday
Mantra
Om Namah Shivaya
Mount
Nandi
Who is Lord Shiva?
Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism — with Brahma and Vishnu, part of the Trimurti, where he is the force of dissolution that makes renewal possible. In the Shaiva tradition he is more than one of three: he is the supreme reality itself, the consciousness from which everything arises and into which everything returns.
He holds opposites with ease. He is the ascetic in the Himalayas and the devoted husband of Parvati; the fierce Rudra and the easily pleased Bholenath; the still meditator and the cosmic dancer. That is why he is called Mahadev — the great god — and why devotees of every temperament find a way to him.
Read the Complete Story of Lord Shiva →
Crescent Moon
Ganga
Third Eye
Rudraksha
Snake
Damru
Trishul
Every symbol of Shiva tells a story
त्रिनेत्र
The Third Eye
Higher consciousness and perception beyond ordinary sight.
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त्रिशूल
Trishul
The three fundamental forces of existence.
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डमरू
Damru
The cosmic rhythm of creation.
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चन्द्र
Crescent Moon
Control over time and its cycles.
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गंगा
River Ganga
Purification and divine grace.
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वासुकि
The Snake
Mastery over fear and mortality.
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रुद्राक्ष
Rudraksha
Spiritual awareness and meditation.
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नन्दी
Nandi
Devotion, strength and righteousness.
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The many forms of Mahadev
Shiva appears in many forms, each revealing a different dimension of the divine.
Nataraja
The cosmic dancer whose dance creates and dissolves the universe.
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Ardhanarishvara
Half Shiva, half Parvati — the unity of masculine and feminine.
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Bhairava
The fierce protector who guards the sacred.
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Dakshinamurthy
The silent teacher, Shiva as the guru of all knowledge.
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Neelkanth
The blue-throated one who held the world's poison.
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Pashupati
Lord of all living beings.
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Mahakala
Beyond time — the one time itself returns to.
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Rudra
The Vedic storm god, fierce and healing at once.
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Stories that define Mahadev
Explore All Shiva Stories →
The story of Shiva and Parvati
A devotion that waited lifetimes.
How Ganga came to Earth
Why the river flows from his hair.
The birth of Lord Ganesha
A mother's creation, a father's gift.
Why Shiva opened his third eye
The day desire itself was burned.
The story of Ravana and Shiva
Kailash, pride and the Shiva Tandava.
Why Shiva is called Bholenath
The god most easily pleased.
Mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
"I bow to Shiva." The Panchakshari — five syllables, na-ma-shi-vā-ya — held to represent the five elements, and the simplest, most complete prayer to Mahadev.
When to chant
Early morning, Mondays, Pradosh
Repetitions
108 on a rudraksha mala
1:12 / 3:45
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे…
For health, healing and protection.
Shiva Gayatri Mantra
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे…
For clarity and inner illumination.
Rudra Mantra
ॐ नमो भगवते रुद्राय
Salutation to Shiva as Rudra.
Panchakshari Mantra
नमः शिवाय
The five-syllable essence of Shiva worship.
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Aartis for Lord Shiva
Featured aarti
Om Jai Shiv Omkara
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
More devotional compositions
Shiv Chalisa
Chalisa
Shiv Tandav Stotram
Stotram
Shiv Panchakshar Stotram
Stotram
Lingashtakam
Ashtakam
Karpur Gauram
Stuti
Poojas dedicated to Lord Shiva
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When India celebrates Mahadev
Phalguna · Feb–Mar
Maha Shivratri
The great night of Shiva — fasting, vigil and abhishek through four prahars.
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Shravan · Jul–Aug
Shravan Month
The monsoon month held dearest to Shiva.
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Every Monday of Shravan
Shravan Somwar
Fasting and temple visits on each Monday of the month.
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Trayodashi · twice monthly
Pradosh Vrat
Twilight worship on the thirteenth lunar day.
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Chaturdashi · monthly
Masik Shivratri
A monthly Shivratri on the dark fortnight's fourteenth.
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Why Monday belongs to Shiva
Somvar — the day of Soma, the moon — belongs to the god who wears the crescent in his hair. Tradition holds that Parvati won Shiva through years of devotion that included Monday fasts, which is why Somvar vrat is especially observed by those praying for a harmonious marriage, and by anyone seeking steadiness of mind.
Somvar Vrat
Why observe it
For steadiness of mind, family harmony and, traditionally, a good marriage.
Basic rules
A fruit-and-milk fast or a single sattvik meal; many avoid grains and salt.
What to offer
Water, milk, Bel Patra and white flowers at a Shivling.
Mantras
Om Namah Shivaya, 108 times; the Mahamrityunjaya for health.
Breaking the fast
After evening aarti, with prasad and a light sattvik meal.
Offerings made to Mahadev
A note on tradition: customs around offerings differ by region and family — Dhatura and Bhasma, for instance, are central in some traditions and absent in others. Follow your family's practice; a sincere offering of water is held complete in itself.
A simple Shiva Pooja at home
Read Complete Shiva Pooja Vidhi →
01
Prepare the pooja space
02
Light the diya
03
Offer water
04
Perform abhishek
05
Offer Bel Patra
06
Chant Om Namah Shivaya
07
Offer flowers and prasad
08
Perform Shiva Aarti
Sacred places of Mahadev
The divine family of Shiva
The many names of Mahadev
Mahadev
Shankar
Bholenath
Neelkanth
Mahesh
Shambhu
Rudra
Pashupati
Mahakala
Ashutosh
Explore 108 Names of Lord Shiva →
Questions about Lord Shiva
Who is Lord Shiva?
One of Hinduism's principal deities — the transformer within the Trimurti, and in the Shaiva tradition the supreme reality itself.
Why is Shiva called Mahadev?
"Maha-deva" means the great god — a name for the one who is revered by the other gods themselves.
Why does Shiva have a third eye?
It represents perception beyond the senses. In the stories, when it opens, it burns away illusion and desire.
Why does Shiva wear a snake?
The serpent Vasuki around his neck signifies mastery over fear, death and the passage of time.
Why is Monday associated with Shiva?
Somvar is the day of the moon, which Shiva wears as a crescent; tradition dedicates Monday worship and fasting to him.
Which mantra is dedicated to Shiva?
Om Namah Shivaya is the principal mantra; the Mahamrityunjaya mantra is chanted especially for health.
What should be offered to Shiva?
Water, milk, Bel Patra and white flowers are most common. Customs vary by region — follow your family's tradition.
What is the significance of the Shivling?
The Lingam is an aniconic symbol of Shiva — the formless, infinite source of creation.
What is the difference between Shiva and Rudra?
Rudra is the Vedic name and fierce aspect; Shiva, "the auspicious one", came to name the whole deity. They are understood as one.
Why is Maha Shivratri celebrated?
It marks the night of Shiva's cosmic dance and, in many traditions, his marriage to Parvati — observed with fasting and night-long worship.