shiva

Shiva is represented in a variety of forms: the consort of Parvati, the cosmic dancer (Nataraja), as a naked asceric, as a mendicant beggar, as a Lord of Cattles (Pashupata), as a yogi, as half-male and half-female (Ardhanarishvara). He is the master of fertility. Also the master of both poison and medicine, through his ambivalent power over snakes.

The three eyed Shiva, the supreme deity is usually depicted as white (from the ashes of corpses that are smeared on his body) with a blue neck (from holding in his throat the poison that emerged at the churning of the cosmic ocean), his hair arranged in a coil of matted locks (jatamakuta) and adorned with the crescent moon and the Ganges.

Shiva is also known as:

1. Mahadeva
2. Bholenath
3. Neelkanth
4. Shivji
5. Shambhu
6. Kailashpati
7. Pashupati
8. Ardhnaarishwara
9. Adiyogi
10. Mahakala

…and so many more.