Shiva, the Hindu God who symbolizes Renunciation

Shiva is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Shiva is the supreme God in Shaivism, one of the major branches of Hinduism.

Adi Sankara interprets the name Shiva meaning One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name or the Pure One. That is, Shiva is unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakriti (matter/nature) namely Satva, Rajas, and Tamas.

Shiva is one of the Trimurti (i.e "trinity"). In the Trimurti, Shiva is the destroyer, and Brahma is the creator and Vishnu is the preserver. Even though he represents destruction, Shiva is viewed as a positive force - The Destroyer of Evil or Ekambaranatha (Sanskrit एकम्बरनाथ), since creation follows destruction. However, according to Shaivism, Shiva is not merely a destroyer but performs five functions:

• Creator
• Preserver
• Destroyer
• Hiding the sins
• Blessing
  

Other views contend that Shiva produces Vishnu who produces Brahma and thus creation began, within which the cycle of the Trimurti exists. Shiva also assumes many other roles, including the Lord of Ascetics (Mahadeva, or the Great God), the Lord of Boons (Rudra, or The Howler - rud-iti rudra), and also the Universal Divinity (Maheshvara, the Great Lord). Shaivites, the worshippers of Shiva consider as the Ultimate Reality (see Ishta-Deva for fuller discussion).

Full Article: Shiva, the Hindu God who symbolizes Renunciation