Key myths about Shiva include that of his destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice and the death of Sati, a foundational tale that explains Shiva’s move from the margins of Hindu orthodoxy. An important series of narrative scenes consists of Shiva’s burning of Kama, his subsequent marriage to Parvati, and the birth of Skanda. Shiva’s beheading and re-heading (with an elephant head) of Ganesha is a key tale. Shiva’s destruction of the demon-run triple city of Tripura and his swallowing of the poison during the Churning of the Ocean show his capacity to prevent harm. Likewise, his protection of the earth from damage that would be caused by the descent of the Ganges River from heaven and his protection of the Moon relate to his nature and his iconography. Stories related to the origin of the aniconic lingam, a form in which he is often worshipped, reveal different perspectives on Shiva’s role and nature.
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