Wiki / Shiva

Shiva (Sanskrit: the Auspicious One) is one of the three great gods of Hinduism (Trimurti) alongside Brahma and Vishnu. As Mahadeva (the Great God) he unites seemingly opposite qualities within himself: he is destroyer and renewer, ascetic and lover, fearsome warrior and deepest meditator. His best-known form is the Nataraj – the cosmic dancer within a ring of fire, whose dance creates and dissolves the universe.

Shiva is depicted with the Third Eye (wisdom and destruction of the ego), the crescent moon (control over time) and the serpent Naga (consciousness and Kundalini energy). As the god of yogis and meditators, he is the primordial model of the spiritual seeker.

Incense for Shiva: Bilva leaves, Dhatura, Rudraksha, cannabis (Ganja) and Vibhuti (sacred ash) are traditional Shiva incense materials. Sandalwood and musk-scented incense cones are also used.