शिव
Trimurti · Sacred Day: Monday
Shiva is the destroyer and transformer within the Trimurti — the one who dissolves the universe at the end of each cosmic cycle so that creation may begin anew. He is also Adiyogi, the first yogi and teacher of yoga, and is worshipped as the supreme reality (Parabrahman) by the Shaiva tradition. His consort is Parvati (also known as Shakti, Durga, Kali). Shiva is typically meditating on Mount Kailash but is also the household god with his family — Parvati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya. He is worshipped primarily in the aniconic form of the Lingam, representing the formless Absolute. The month of Shravana and the night of Maha Shivaratri are especially sacred to him.
Ash-smeared body, third eye on the forehead, matted locks (jata) with the crescent moon and Ganga flowing from them, a serpent (Vasuki) around the neck, garland of rudraksha beads, trident (Trishula), damaru (hand drum), deer in one hand. He wears a tiger skin and rides Nandi, the divine bull. Blue throat (Neelakantha) from drinking the Halahala poison.
ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ॥
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि । तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात् ॥