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Abstract
Shiva the god of destruction is one among the Hindu trinity and more widely worshipped in India. Siva is represented in sculpture either as a terrific destructive deity or as a pacific boon conferrer and is regarded as destroyer of evils and Siva is worshipped in two forms.
- Phallic form or Linga
- Anthropomorphic Form
The chief image in the central shrine of a Siva temple is in phallic or linga form, very rarely do we meet with human images of Siva in the central shrines. In south India the human images of Siva had occupied the subordinate position to Linga. As the destroyer of the evil he is called samhara purusha and is usually attributed with certain terrific features and destructive attributes in different forms such as, he killed Gajasura (the elephant demon), Kala (god of death), Kama (god of lust of love) Tripurantakamurti,(destroyed three cities and three demons) Bramasiraschedakamurti( axing the head of Brahma). Bhairava, Veerabadhra and Andhakasuravadamurti.