Shiva, the absolute, self-radiant, very almighty and the Supreme power of our beautiful universe. The word Shiva (शिवा) has been derived by reversing the letters of the word vash (वश्‌) means to enlighten. The one who enlightens is Shiva. He remains radiant and also illuminates the universe. He is the auspicious and prosperity-bestowing principle.
Shiva is known by many names
Shankar (शंकर)
Mahankaleshvar (महाकलेशवर)
Mahadev (महादेव)
Bhalachandra (भालचंद्र)
Karpurgour (कर्पूरगौरं)
Stenapati (स्‍तेनपति)
Pingalaksha (पिंगलाक्ष)
Nilkantha (नीलकंठ)
Ashutosh (आशुतोष)
Bhujangapatihari (भुजंगपतिहार)
Meaning is same “He is the ultimate power of universe.”
Shiva is also known as the God of Yogis, self controlled and celibate who wear jewels like the holy Ganga, the moon and Snake. There is a saying that Shiva wears those jewels just to cool the energy the almighty create in his austerities (mudra).His weapon was a Trisul and a Damru was tied with trisul .Lord Shiva play his damru when he feel happy.
Shiva is also known as the destroyer of the world because of his high temper. He even reduces the Kama (the deity of love), into ashes just because he wake the Shiva from his mudra.
Shiva got his name as Neelkanth because the poison generated during the churning of the celestial ocean (samudramanthan) was burning the entire world but no deity came forward to accept it. At that time Shiva drank that poison and saved the world from destruction. Ingestion of the poison turned His neck blackish-blue and He came to be known as Nilkantha (नीलकंठ).
Neither did demons like Banasur, Ravan, etc. worship Vishnu nor did Vishnu bestow boons upon any demon. However they worshipped Shiva who blessed them with a boon as he never differentiate among his worshippers. Shiva is the master of spirits. He has the potential to create and bring about dissolution, also the combination of serenity-anger, the moon (tranquility). Lord Shiva is incomplete without his wife Parviti who is also known as Aaditi Shakti. Shiva’s main power source of energy is his wife Parviti has many names Durga, Kali, Vaishno, Jawla, etc. There is saying also that
“ Shiv hi Parviti hai aur Parviti hi Shiv hai”.
Lord Shiva has a third eye which he open only when he get angry on anyone and the anger of Shiva turn into fire to reduce that person into ashes. Third eye of Shiva also stands for eye that perception beyond ordinary sight.
Lord Shiva’s main attributes are:
1.He live on top of Himalaya.
2.He wear Snakes, The Moon and The Holy Ganga.
3.He is in differentiable among his followers.
4.He rides a bull known as Bhagwan Nandi.
5.He has third Eye to see beyond the ordinary.

(Shiv is the ultimate truth and Shiv is the ultimate beauty)

Har Har MahaDev!!! Bhole Shambho.