Shiva is one of the trimurthi (Trinity) - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, respectively incharge of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the world. He is known by many other names in the various parts of India. Shankar, Mahadev, Mahesh, Shiv Shankar, Bhole Nath are some of his popular names. He has his abode on Kailash mountain and is also known as Kailashpati.

He is depicted in Yoga Mudra performing Samadhi. He has a drum and TrishU1, the Trident next to him. He wears Vaghambar ( the tiger skin) around his waist, and Rudraksha garland and snakes around his neck. Holy river Ganga is said to have been locked up in his long matted hair to break the destructive power of her torrential flow. It was later released by Him for the benefit of mankind.

The matted hair proclaims the length and intensity of his Tapasya (meditation). The Cobra around his neck signifies that even the most poisonous desires are subdued by a yogi. One who has identified himself with the Supreme, has gone beyond all the effects of matter relating to his sense organs and has become immune even to the deadliest of the poisons. The third eye in the midst of the forehead represents the concentration of Jnana (knowledge) and absolute power to destroy Tamas (evil). The blue color of the neck symbolizes the pervasiveneSS of Maya or Avidya up to the neck, and beyond the neck is the seat of Jnana leading to immortality. The ashes on his body symbolize that the body of which we are proud is ultimately bound to end up as ashes. The trident stands for Sama, Dama, and Vairagya which dispel and destroy the six weaknesses - Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsara (passion, anger, covetousneSS, attachment, arrogance and jealousy) which pull us down. By directing the trident against these weaknesses, and winning over them one can attain the Moksha or liberation. The tiger skin apparel stands for Vairagya (renunciation). Shiva's half closed eyes while in meditation, signify a yogi's detachment even in the midst of a material world.

PARVATI DEVI

Parvati Devi also known as Girija, Uma or Bhavani is the consort of Lord Shiva. She is the daughter of Himvan, the king of mountains. In her previous life she was born as Sati, daughter of king Daksha. She took her own life during an Yajna (fire worship) performed by her father king Daksha because he did not invite her and her husband to the Yajna and insulted Lord Shiva. When she was born as daughter of Himvan, she performed Tapasya to marry Lord Shiva. During her Tapasya, she lived for many years on leaves and was given the name of Aparna.

Parvati represents prakriti, the matter. The power of destruction has to be associated with destructible matter. In other words destruction ceases to have any meaning without destructible objects. The god of destruction Lord Shiva, therefore chose Parvati or Uma as his consort.

The God and Goddess are the first self-revelation of the Absolute, the male being the personification of passive aspect, the female being the activating energy, shakti or universal power. Goddess Parvati represents this universal power. The Goddess is also known as Annapurna meaning the Bestower of Food, Anna. The food here has a wider meaning and includes all material objects/wealth which are food for five sense organs. The goddess is endowed with different types of food that she provides to her devotees.

NANDI

Nandi the bull is conceived as the vahana, or the vehicle of Lord Shiva. In Shiva temples, Nandi is always placed in front of the chief shrine or just outside it, with its head turned away from the deity but the gaze fixed on it. It is interpreted as jivatman, the individual soul, with its animal nature pulling it away from the God, but His grace pulling the jivatman back to Him.

Nandi's two horns symbolize tamas (non apprehension of Reality) and rajas (misapprehension of reality). Thus Bull is a symbol for the extrovert man. Shiva, the Self rides the Bull. In Sanskrit, Nandi also means one who is full and happy. Only a perfect man or a realized soul can enjoy fullness and complete happiness. Nandi thus proves to be a symbol of the perfect man who has completely purified the mind and intellect and has sought identity with the Self.