What is Shiva?
{{Infobox deity | type = Hindu | image = Shiva-Parvati on Nandi.jpg | caption = Shiva and Parvati on [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] | name = Shiva | Devanagari = शिव | Sanskrit_transliteration = {{IAST|Śiva}} |affiliation = [[Brahman|Parabrahman]] ([[Shaivism]]), [[Trimurti]] | deity_of = Destruction, Dance, Arts<ref>{{cite book|author=Wendy Doniger|title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZP_f9icf2roC&pg=PA1134 |year=1999|publisher=Merriam-Webster|isbn=978-0-87779-044-0|page=1134}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=((Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica))|title=Encyclopedia of World Religions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbibAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA445|year=2008|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.|isbn=978-1-59339-491-2|pages=445–448}}</ref> | abode = [[Kailash]] | mantra = Om Namah Shivaya<br> Shivaya Namah | weapon = [[Trishula]]<ref name=jones492>{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|author2=James D. Ryan|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |year=2006|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|pages=491–492}}</ref> | consorts = [[Parvati]]<ref name=jones492/> | festivals = Maha Shivaratri, Hariyali Teej, Ardra Dharshana | member_of = [[Trimurti]] |mount=[[Nandi (bull)]]}} '''Shiva''' is a major god in [[Hinduism]] and one of the chief gods as a member of the [[Trimurti]]. Shiva is causeless auspiciousness. Shiva is also known as the Maharudra (the great Rudra). Shiva is an embodiment of ultimate space of enlightenment. He assumed human form to guide [[Human|humans]] in the past and thus, he is also known as Adiguru (the first teacher). His space of enlightenment is what all spiritual seekers aspire for. All enlightened [[Rishi|sages]] live in this space of Shiva. Shiva is the destroyer god of this complete [[universe]] because he destroys all evils in the world. His wife is the goddess [[Parvati]]. According to Hindu mythology, he had a blue neck because he drunk and burned his snake [[Vasuki]]'s poison to as