Forms of Shiva

thumb|right|A lingam with tripundra, projected on a [[yoni base]]

Ardhanarishvara () is a form of the Hindu deity Shiva combined with his consort Parvati. Ardhanarishvara is depicted as half-male and half-female, equally split down the middle.

thumb|Vishnu and [[Shiva, the primary bearers of the epithet Ishvara, seated on mounts with consorts Lakshmi and Parvati, accompanied by Vinayaka]]

Rudra (, ) is a Rigvedic deity associated with Shiva, the wind or storms, Vayu, medicine, and the hunt. One translation of the name is 'the roarer'. In the Rigveda, Rudra is praised as the "mightiest of the mighty". Rudra means "who eradicates problems from their roots". Depending upon the period, the name Rudra can be interpreted as 'the most severe roarer/howler' or 'the most frightening one'. This name appears in the Shiva Sahasranama, and R. K. Sharma notes that it is often used as a name of Shiva in later languages. The "Shri Rudram" hymn from the Yajurveda is dedicated to Rudra and is im

thumb|right|Muthappan, Kaalabhairavan worshipped in ancestral form through [[Theyyam form, in the northern region of Kerala, South India. ]] Bhairava (, ), or Kāla Bhairava, is a Shaivite and Vajrayāna deity worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. In Shaivism, he is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, of Shiva. In the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism, Bhairava represents the Supreme Reality, synonymous to Para Brahman. Generally in Hinduism, Bhairava is also called Daṇḍapāni ("[he who holds the] danda in [his] hand"), as he holds a rod or danda to punish sinners, and Śvāśva, meaning, "he whose vehic

Nataraja (, ; , Naṭarājar), also known as Adalvallan (), is a depiction of Shiva, one of the main deities in Hinduism, as the divine cosmic dancer. His dance is called the tandava. The pose and artwork are described in many Hindu texts such as the Tevaram and Thiruvasagam in Tamil and the Amshumadagama and Uttarakamika agama in Sanskrit and the Grantha texts. The dance murti is featured in all major Hindu temples of Shaivism, and is a well-known sculptural symbol in India and popularly used as a symbol of Indian culture, as one of the finest illustrations of Hindu art. This form is also referr

Dattatreya (, ), Dattā or Dattaguru, is a paradigmatic Sannyasi (monk) and one of the lords of yoga, venerated as a Hindu god. He is considered to be an avatar and combined form of the three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are also collectively known as the Trimurti, and as the manifestation of Parabrahma, the supreme being, in texts such as the Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana, and the Brahmanda Purana, though stories about his birth and origin vary from text to text. Several Upanishads are dedicated to him, as are texts of the Vedanta-Yoga tradition in Hinduism. One of the m

Harihara (Sanskrit: हरिहर) is the dual representation of the Hindu deities Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara). Harihara is also known as Shankaranarayana ("Shankara" is Shiva, and "Narayana" is Vishnu).

A Jyotirlinga () or Jyotirlingam is a devotional representation of the Hindu god Shiva. The word is a Sanskrit compound of ('radiance') and ('sign'). The Śiva Mahāpurāṇam (also Shiva Purana) mentions 64 original jyotirlinga shrines in India.

Ishaan (Sanskrit: ईशान, IAST: Īśāna), is a Hindu god and the dikpala of the northeast direction. He is often considered to be one of the forms of the god Shiva, and is also often counted among the eleven Rudras. He is venerated in Hinduism, some schools of Buddhism and Jainism. In the Vastu Shastra, the north-eastern corner of a plot of land is referred to as "Ishana". Ishana also shares qualities with Samhara Bhairava and is therefore a part of the Ashta Bhairava.

thumb|The Pashupati seal, showing a figure surrounded by animals who is thought to be Shiva; circa 2350-2000 BCE. It is preserved in [[National Museum, New Delhi]]

Virabhadra (), also rendered Veerabhadra, is a fierce form of the Hindu god Shiva. He is created by the wrath of Shiva, when the deity hurls a lock of his matted hair upon the ground, upon hearing of the self-immolation of his consort, Sati, at the Daksha yajna.

Khandoba (IAST: Khaṇḍobā), also known as Martanda Bhairava and Malhari, is a Hindu deity worshiped generally as a manifestation of Shiva mainly in the Deccan region of India, especially in the state of Maharashtra and North Karnataka. He is the most popular Kuladevata (family deity) in Maharashtra. He is also the patron deity of some Kshatriya Marathas (warriors), farming castes, shepherd community and Brahmin (priestly) castes as well as several of the hunter/gatherer tribes that are native to the hills and forests of this region.

is a syncretic Japanese deity of fortune, luck and wealth. Daikokuten originated from Mahākāla, the Buddhist conflated with the native Shinto god Ōkuninushi. He is a patron of farmers, cooks and jobs related to money such as bankers.

thumb|260x260px|Shiva as Sharabha subduing Narasimha, panel view from Munneswaram temple in [[Sri Lanka]]

Dakshinamurti () is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as a guru (teacher). He is regarded to be the personification of the supreme or the ultimate awareness, understanding, and knowledge. Dakshinamurti represents Shiva as a teacher of yoga, music, and wisdom, offering an exposition of the Shastras. He is worshipped as the god of wisdom and meditation.

thumb|300px|A depiction of Somaskanda with a dancing Skanda in the middle of Parvati and [[Shiva .]]

Sadashiva (, ), is the Supreme Being in the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition of Hinduism. Sadasiva is the omnipotent, subtle, luminous absolute, the highest manifestation of Shiva. Sadasiva is believed to bestow anugraha and vilaya, or grace and obscuration of pasha, which are the fourth and fifth of the Panchakritya, or the "five holy acts" of Shiva. Sadasiva is usually depicted having five faces and ten hands, and is considered one of the 25 forms of Shiva. Shiva Agamas conclude that the lingam, especially the mukhalingam, is another form of Sadasiva.

thumb|Lakulisha at Sangameshvara Temple at Mahakuta, Karnataka (Chalukya dynasty|Chalukya, 7th century CE). His 5th–10th century ithyphallic statues are also found in seated yogi position in [[Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere.]] Lakulisha ( ) (Etymology: लगुड (staff) or लकुट (mace) + ईश (lord) = meaning, the lord with a staff or mace or club or stick) was a prominent Shaivite revivalist, reformist and preceptor of the doctrine of the Pashupatas, one of the oldest sects of Shaivism.

thumb|The 11 Rudras depicted with a third eye and ithyaphallic, Udayagiri Caves, c. 401 CE

Bhikshatana (; ; literally, "wandering about for alms, mendicancy") or Bhikshatana-murti () is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as the "Supreme mendicant" or the "Supreme Beggar". Bhikshtana is depicted as a nude four-armed man adorned with ornaments who holds a begging bowl in his hand and is followed by goblin attendants and love-sick women.

Supreme god in Indonesian mythology, a version of the Hindu god Shiva

Ravananugraha or Ravananugraha-murti ("form showing favour to Ravana") is a benevolent aspect of the Hindu god Shiva, depicted seated on his abode Mount Kailash with his consort Parvati, while the rakshasa-king (demon-king) Ravana of Lanka attempts to uproot it. According to Hindu scriptures, Ravana once tried to lift Mount Kailash, but Shiva pushed the mountain into place, and trapped Ravana beneath it. For a thousand years, the imprisoned Ravana sang hymns in praise of Shiva, who finally blessed him and granted him an invincible sword and a powerful linga (Shiva's aniconic symbol, Atmalinga)

Lingōdbhava (also called Lingobhava, the "emergence of the Linga") is an iconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva, commonly seen in temples in Tamil Nadu.

figure in Buddhist Mythology

thumb|Plaster replica of the Ashtamurti form of Shiva, 6th century CE. On display in the Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai.

Jvara (), also called Jvarasura, is the personification of fever in Hindu tradition. He is the servant, and sometimes the attendant, of the pox-goddess, Shitala.

Muneeswarar, or Muneeswaran (Tamil: முனீஸ்வரன் Malayalam: മുനീശ്വരൻ ), is a popular Hindu deity within Hinduism, and is worshipped by many, in countries such as India, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Fiji and many more. He is sometimes referred to by different names, such as Muniyandi, Muniyappan, Muni Ayya, Ayya amongst many others. Muneeswarar is mostly considered a guardian deity or minor, but is in some cases hierarchically considered to be on par with Shiva, one of the main deities in the Hindu trinity. Although not much is known on the exact origins and history of Muneeswarar, he is ofte

Tripurantaka () or Tripurari is a manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva. This form of the deity is written in a Purana literature in which he destroys the three cities of the asuras, called Tripura, with a single arrow.

Kalantaka (Sanskrit: कालान्तक, ender of time) is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as the conqueror of time and death, itself personified by the god Yama. He is depicted as defeating or killing Yama when the latter comes to take the life of Shiva's devotee Markandeya. Shiva is often depicted as dancing on death, personified by Yama.

Gajasurasamhara (lit. "The Slayer of the elephant demon"), also Gajasamhara, Gajantaka and Gajaha (all three lit. "the Slayer of the elephant") and Matangari ("The Enemy of the elephant"), is a fierce aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as the Destroyer of the elephant demon, Gajasura. The icon is popular in Pallava and Chola art, which portray him dancing vigorously in the flayed elephant hide of Gajasura.

Aspect of Shiva

Ekapada is the one-footed aspect of the Hindu god Shiva. This form is primarily found in South India and Orissa, but also occasionally in Rajasthan and Nepal.

The panchavimshatimurti () is the representation of twenty-five forms of Shiva in Hindu iconography. These forms are described in the Shaiva Agamas of the southern Shaiva Siddhanta sect of Shaivism. The Sritattvanidhi calls these the panchavimshatililamurti (twenty-five sportive forms). These forms are based on the Puranas and the Itihasas, in which the theme of Shiva's divine play is explained with numerous narratives. Most of these forms are featured in South Indian temples as the main images of the sanctum or sculptures and reliefs in the outer walls of Shiva temples.

thumb|Upper part (oval stone) of Lingam|Shiva lingam represents Parashiva

aspect of the Hindu deity Bhairava

thumb|upright|Kankalamurti, Darasuram (12th century), currently in [[Thanjavur Maratha Palace museum, Thanjavur]] Kankalamurti (Sanskrit: कङ्कालमूर्ति, romanized: Kaṅkālamūrti, lit."skeleton form"), also known as Kankala ("skeleton") or Kankala-Bhairava, is an iconographical form of the Hindu god Shiva. He is often associated with a fearsome aspect of Shiva, Bhairava, and also considered to be the latter's aspect. Kankalamurti is popular in South Indian temples of Shiva, but almost unknown in North India. He is described in legends to have defeated and slayed Vishnu's army-chief and gate-keepe