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Siva

Siva

1 7.9
A main god in Hinduism who is worshipped as the destroyer and restorer of worlds
  • proper noun
  • /ˈsiːvə/
: Siva
  • Here, Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, is said to have worshiped Siva before his campaign against the demon king Ravana.
  • worship of Siva
  • Siva and Vishnu

Examples

  • Indeed, during the death meditation that Thompson vividly recounts (p. 279), the figure he saw was Siva, the lord of the dance.

    Academic text (2016)
  • His first long-distance spiritual pilgrimage with his guru to Varanasi, the primordial city of Siva, is especially significant.

    Academic text (2001)
  • lt is why Siva brought you here.

  • We prayed to Siva to help us find the stone.

  • Equivalent to Varanasi in the north, Ramesvaram is the premier place of Siva pilgrimage in the south.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Bhagavan Siva explained in great detail to Devi Parvathi the process of worship aimed at Him.

    Blog text (14)
  • He climbs Mount Kailasa to meet Siva, the Hindu god.

  • In the Hindu religion, Vishnu and Siva represent, respectively, the sustenance and dissolution aspects of existence.

    Academic text (2001)
  • A number of exquisite bronze statues have been recovered from shrines to the Hindu god Siva erected at Polonnaruva during the period of Cola domination.

    Academic text (2002)
  • In Hindu mythology, Siva is revered as 'the auspicious one', embodying the roles of both destroyer and restorer of worlds.

Synonyms

Shiva
vsSiva
13 7.7

A major Hindu god who destroys and changes the world

is the same major deity but shown as restorer rather than transformer

Surface Forms

Siva main

Etymology

Siva comes from the old Sanskrit name Śiva, which means 'auspicious' or 'lucky', so a helpful way to remember him is as a power that clears away the old to make room for new life. That's why Siva is both the destroyer and the restorer of worlds.