Shiva

Shiva, (originally Indra) also called Rudra; the terrible roaring god of storm and thunder had four faces;

Shiva is the third deity of the Hindu triad of great gods, the Trimurti. He is called the Destroyer, but has also the aspect of regeneration. Shiva portrays many of the qualities of human beings. He is simple-minded but quick to anger and impulsive in his attitude. He personifies the disintegrative elements of nature and is the god of destruction, but he is also the god of fertility and sexuality. As destroyer he is dark and terrible, and though he is often said to fight demons, he is more often accompanied by a train of hideous demons, encircled with serpents and necklaces of skulls. As auspicious and reproductive power, he is worshipped in the form of the shivling or shiva linga (lingam; penis) which is a symbol of life; a large phallus which adored instead of him. Shiva temples have Shiva-Linga as the main deity. Many potent symbols are associated with Shiva. The linga or phallic representation of Shiva is basic to all Shaivite worship. Lord Shiva appears in a meditating but ever-happy posture. He has matted hair which holds the flowing Ganges river and a crescent moon, a serpent coiled around his neck, a trident (trishul) in his one hand and ashes all over his body. He carries a trident and a noose that represent earthly life and attachment to the material world (raga). His vehicle is a bull (Bull of heaven; Enlil) named Nandi. Shiva was the god of the earthbound animal soul; the Jiva; (Jeeva; Bondage), that had to be guided by learning and law up to the point where the Atma set in and took over this soul, lending it its name.

Shiva was married to the demon goddess Kali , Durga, or Lalitha in a nicer aspect, which of course resembles the name Lillith, the wife of Satan. Lalitha, who is the consort (http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Morning_prayer_to_Lalitha) and power behind Shiva (sthuthave parasivaam), in her aspect as Shodasi is represented as a sixteen-year-old girl, and is believed to embody sixteen types of desire. The Shodasi Tantra, a treatise on the Tantra, describes Tripura Sundari as "the radiant light in the eyes of Shiva". She is described as being of dusky color, and is depicted in an intimate position with an aspect of Shiva.

Like Satan (who wasn't always a evil Demon), Shiva carried the Trident representing the life-force piercing the snake of Matter, resulting is a bondage to the three Gunas, the three basic urges inherent to the animal soul. It is said, that when the "i" is removed from the name Shiva, it becomes Shava (corpse) which points to the life force in a living body. This reminds of the Semitic saying that when the "i"; the first letter of the name of the Lord; Yah, is removed from the name of Adam (aish) he will turn into fire, and points to a common origin of these tales.

When it comes down to it, most people want to be good, I suppose, and worshippers want to worship good gods, which translates itself in religious aspect, in transforming the gods they worship, into good and benevolent deities, no matter what. This among other, happened to Zeus, Poseidon, Marduk, Cernunnos and Danu. Gradually, in time, Shiva's character has changed into that of a god of ascetism, the mahayogi, the personification of austere penance and meditation and became personified with the highest of all ideals. It is now said that "Shiva is the Brahman and as such He does not have any desires. And his iccha form is reflected in the form Lalithai. Here desire means desire to self-realization. “Yata Shiva –tata Devi; Yata Devi- tata Shiva” is the saying. Wherever Shiva is there will be Shakthi (which is the Jewish Shechina; the presence of God) and wherever Shakthi is there will be Shiva. That is why it is said there is no difference between Shiva and Shakthi." (http://www.manblunder.com/2009/07/lalitha-sahasranamam-5354.html) The same goes for his wife and consort Lalitha. Within Vaishnava theology and Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, Lalita is even included amongst the eight principle gopis, known as 'sakhis' or friends of Srimati Radharani, Lord Krishna's highest loving consort. Despite her negative connotations concerning the terrible iron end-age Kali Yuga, Kali is today considered the goddess of time and change. Although sometimes presented as dark and violent, her earliest incarnation as a figure of annihilation still has some influence. More complex Tantric beliefs sometimes extend her role so far as to be the "ultimate reality" or Brahman. She is even revered as Bhavatarini (literally "redeemer of the universe"). Comparatively recent devotional movements largely conceive Kali as a benevolent mother goddess. Deep inside we're all looking for Light, Truth and Beauty, no matter what name we give it.

Above;	Ishana;	Ruler;	copper	learning
East;	Tat Purusha;	supreme soul	Yellow	nature
West;	Yama Deva;	Left-hand deity	Red	fire
North;	Agora Bhairav;	Frightful	Blueblack	Intellect and law