  
Along with Brahma and Vishnu, Lord Shiva is one of the three main Hindu dieties which represent creation, preservation, and destruction. Shiva, who when he dances life into and out of creation is known as Nataraj, is also known as Mahadev, Shambo, and Shankara. He is an ascetic, spending much of his life alone in meditation in the Himalayas. He usually carries a trident or trishul, a double headed drum or damaru, and the river Goddess Ganga flows into and out of his jetta hair knot. Around his arms and ankles are protective snakes, or nagas.
The Shiva statue (shown at left) is located in the Ganga pond on Kashi Ashram.
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