Tantric Art - Shiva

The three primary Hindu gods are Brahma (creation), Vishnu (preservation) and Shiva (destruction). Shiva's darkness and wrath is frightening only if one is not willing to accept the fact that anything fresh and new requires the destruction of old ways, habits or situations. Shiva is actually a regenerative force, and his name literally means "auspiciousness."

The Dancing Shiva is known as Nataraja. Nataraja's dance is symbolic of universal creation - the power to give life, and to take it away.

Shiva is also the god of fertility and is sometimes represented by a phallic symbol.

Lovely Parvati (also known as Uma) is Shiva's consort. But her sweetly graceful contenance is only one of her forms. The most disturbing face she puts forth is that of Kali, the deadly feminine force.