The Hindu Trinity places Lord Shiva after Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. In the divine scheme of things, first comes creation, then preservation, followed by destruction, and for this reason Shiva is known as the 'destroyer'. Yet of the three Hindu Lords,, Shiva is also considered, 'the good one', since his destruction targets evil and sorrow. In fact, Shiva is usually represented as smiling, the very manifestation of tranquility and benevolence.
Shiva's role in the triumvirate is to destroy a disharmonious universe in order that it may be created anew, what one school of psychology refers to as 'positive disintegration'. As the source of both good and evil, he must necessarily combine contradictory elements, confusing many Westerners about his cosmic role. Existence hangs in the creative balance between the forces of good and evil, a precarious situation that may become irreparably dysfunctional, at which point Lord Shiva dissolves the universe to protect billions of souls from the pain and suffering. In a similar cycle of death and rebirth, spring follows winter, just as the dawn is impossible without the night.
Seen in this light, Shiva is the Lord of mercy and compassion. He protects us from the forces of lust, greed, and anger, but also bestows grace and awakens wisdom in his devotees. With such a cosmic workload, no single image can fully convey what Shiva symbolizes. White-skinned but with a dark-blue throat, Shiva has several arms and three eyes. He carries a trident and rides a white bull. His unclad body covered with ashes suggests 'ashes to ashes�' and symbolizes the physical universe by which he is not affected.
Below you will find a gallery of inspirational images that will help you in your quest of creating the perfect Hindu tattoo.
Also Check out: Religious Tattoos, Shiva tattoos, Vishnu tattoos, Ganesha tattoos, Lingam tattoo designs, Kali tattoos, Hanuman, Krishna, Hindu tattoo designs
