Shiva, also known as Mahadeva, is one of Hinduism’s most important deities. In Shaivism, one of Hinduism’s primary traditions, he is the Supreme Being. Shiva has pre-Vedic tribal roots, and the modern Shiva is a fusion of several ancient non-Vedic and Vedic deities, including the Rigvedic storm god Rudra, who may also have non-Vedic origins. […]