Shiva, (Sanskrit: “Auspicious One”) also spelled Śiwa or Śiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Lord of Yogis, and the teacher of Yoga to sages. He is considered the supreme guru who "teaches in silence the oneness of one's innermost self (atman) with the ultimate reality (brahman)." In Hinduism, the universe is thought to regenerate in cycles (every 2,160,000,000 years). Shiva destroys the universe at the end of each cycle which then allows for a new Creation. Shiva is also the great ascetic, abstaining from all forms of indulgence and pleasure, concentrating rather on meditation as a means to find perfect happiness. He is the most important Hindu god for the Shaivism sect, the patron of Yogis and Brahmins, and also the protector of the Vedas, the sacred texts.
The iconographical attributes of Shiva are the serpent around his neck, the adorning crescent moon, the holy river Ganga flowing from his matted hair, the third eye on his forehead, the trishula or trident, as his weapon, and the damaru drum. Shiva's distinctive hair style is noted in the epithets Jaṭin, "the one with matted hair". Shiva is usually depicted in painting and sculpture as white (from the ashes of corpses that are smeared on his body)
https://www.ancient.eu/shiva/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva
