Shiva as Nataraja (Lord of Dance), Elephanta Caves, Gharapuri
In the Hindu pantheon, Shiva is one of the primary emanations of Brahman or in the orthodox sect of Shaivism, the supreme being itself. He is sometimes associated with the Bronze Age Harappan civilization of the Indus Valley, possibly depicted in the motif of a horned seated figure, as well as represented in the Rigveda as the demigod Rudra, the conqueror of evil. In these earlier traditions, he is a relatively minor figure that developed into an amalgamation of different important figures including Indra and Soma.
Shiva is worshipped in the form of linga, an aniconic pillar, often paired with yoni, representing the complimenting divine male and female creative energies, respectively. These forces interact to allow dynamic change, resisting both inertness and reactivity. This is also seen in the goddesses, consorts, and female aspects of the Hindu gods, which are all manifestations of Devi.
In addition to his fiercer aspects, Shiva is also held to be the original ascetic yogi and a beneficent deity associated with mountains and water. One of his major functions is to break the fall of the Ganges while meditating as it descends from the heavens on Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. In doing so, he delivers the waters as a tangible connection with the divine, protects the mortal realm, and serves as the nexus for where they meet.
As part of the Hindu Trimurti and a god of transformations, he is a reminder of unity of the universe. Shiva Nataraja dances the tāṇḍava nṛtya, or cosmic dance, which is the source of the endless rhythm of creation and maintenance of reality, while marking its dissolution, disillusion, and rebirth.