Shiva’s household is an important component of his mythology. His female partner appears under multiple names—Sati, Parvati, Uma, Durga, and Kali—and he is often identified with Shakti, divine feminine power. Together the couple are said to dwell on Mount Kailash and to have two principal sons: Skanda (also called Karttikeya), the six-headed war god born to slay the demon Taraka, and Ganesha, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles. Shiva’s vehicle (vahana) is the bull Nandi, who often appears in temples in his own pavilion, facing the main temple sanctuary, where Shiva dwells.
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