Hindu
Shiva
A great Hindu god, shown as a dancer and a calm meditator, associated with change and new beginnings.
Shiva is one of the main gods in Hinduism, honoured by millions of people today. He is shown in two famous ways: sitting calmly in meditation in the Himalayas, and as Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance, whose dance stands for the rhythm of the universe.
He is often pictured with a crescent moon in his hair, the river Ganges flowing from it, a small drum called a damaru, and, in many pictures, three lines of ash across his forehead. In a much-loved tale he drinks the poison from the churning of the ocean to save the world, and it turns his throat blue. He is married to Parvati, and their son Ganesha has an elephant's head. Shiva is associated with endings that make room for new beginnings, and his devotees treat him with deep love and respect.