Shiva is sometimes called the destroyer in Hinduism because, in the Trimurti cosmology, his function is to bring the world to dissolution so the cycle of creation and preservation can restart. Mythic episodes underline his destructive capacity. For example, Shiva fires the arrow that destroys the triple fortresses in the Tripura story. His fierce manifestation, Bhairava, cuts off one of the heads of the god Brahma. In anger, he reduces to ashes Kama, the god of love, and the gods have to find a way to hide that anger until the end of the universe. Shiva is also known to live in cremation grounds and cover his body in ash, as do some of his ascetic followers. However, for many Shaiva Hindus, Shiva is not a fearsome god but rather a god who serves his devotees in a benevolent capacity.
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