Background Information for Teachers The god Shiva, the Creator
and Destroyer, is often shown with a cobra, the Naga, symbol of
fertility and strength, wrapped around his neck. The god usually
has four arms, signifying his superhuman power, each with a hand
holding one of his attributes. He uses the trishula, or trident,
like a spear to destroy his demon foes. Frequently he holds a
drum rattle whose sound creates life as it reverberates through
the cosmos. The beads of his rosary symbolize all time (past,
present, and future) and its transcendence. The three horizontal
lines often seen on Shiva's forehead represent three aspects of
the divine: the Creator, the Preserver, and the Destroyer.
During puja, many devotees of Shiva mark their own foreheads
with these three lines in sacred ash or sandalwood paste. Click
on the thumbnail images for a closer look! Photo: Contemporary
poster of the god Shiva and his family. Shiva (left), Parvati
(right), and Ganesha (middle).