Lord Shiva

Shiva is the destroyer and transformer of the Trimurti, and in the Shaivite traditions the supreme god from whom everything else proceeds. Destruction and creation are the same act seen from different ends, which is the part that takes some sitting with.

What he destroys is the world at the end of a cycle, and, closer to hand, the illusion of a separate self. He is also the lord of time and of the dance that keeps the cosmos turning. This one is under three inches, which makes it a travel altar piece or something for a desk rather than a centrepiece.

Good to Know

1.5 by 2.5 by 2.75 inches. Cold cast resin, which is resin with stone or metal powder blended into it. It takes fine detail far better than plain resin and has real weight in the hand. Dust it with a dry brush rather than a cloth, which catches on the detail.

How to Use It

A statue on an altar is not decoration and it is not a substitute for practice. It is a place to put your attention. Give it somewhere it will be seen daily rather than a shelf you dust twice a year, keep the space around it clear, and if you leave offerings, take them away before they spoil.

Pair It With

Nitiraj Shiva incense is the obvious pairing, and Parvati if you want them both on the altar. Tulsi tea for the daily habit side of it. More in totems and statues.