Shiva is a complex god with many roles and powers. In his destroyer role, he often haunts cemeteries, wearing a garland of snakes and a necklace of skulls. A band of terrifying demons, hungering for blood, accompanies him. Shiva's destructive powers are awesome, but they also have a positive side in that destruction usually leads to new forms of existence. In art, Shiva is often portrayed with four arms, four faces, and three eyes. A glance from the third eye in the center of his forehead has the power to destroy anything in creation, including humans and gods. Yet despite his destructiveness, Shiva can be helpful to humans and other gods. He acts as a divine judge who shows no mercy to the wicked. He gains spiritual strength from periods of meditation in the Himalayas. When he dances, he represents truth, and by dancing he banishes ignorance and helps relieve the suffering of his followers. Shiva saved the Devas and the world from destruction by swallowing the poison of Vasuki. One of Shiva's greatest services to the world was to hold the sacred Ganges River, in his matted hair, which flows from the Himalayas. At one time, the Ganges passed only through the heavens, leaving the earth dry. After a wise man changed the course of the river, it became a raging torrent and threatened to flood the earth. Shiva stood beneath the river and let its waters wind through his hair to calm its flow. Shiva is "sunderashewara" the all beautiful, he is "Ekwartya" the hermit. He is "Pashupati" The Lord of creatures. He is is "Sadashiv" the all eternal, he is "yajat" the guardian in Ganesha, he is "Bhudeva" the lord of earth in Kartikeya, he adorns "Adi Shakti" on his sahastra chakra, where he is "sat" "Chitta" "ananda" the eternal bliss. ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป
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