Shiv or as most western people like to call Shiva is one most popular gods. It is said that Ganga originates from the hairs (dreads) of shiv.
People usually like to worship shiv because Shiv can be easily pleased.
There is a story about a demon who worshiped shiv and after shiv pleased with his dedication, completed his wish ( the wish the demon asked god was that whenever he touches somebody , the somebody will turn into ashes). After getting his wish he started running after Shiv to turn god in ashes , so Shiv had to take help from one of the other powerfull god ( also wise) to stop the demon.
So there are many stories like these which tells that Shiv very easy going and get in trouble because of this , but don't get me wrong. I am not saying shiv is less powerful because as they are god of gods and demons.
Shiv also has a serpent that is usually stays on the shiv's neck , there are many stories about the snake and one of the story is that the snake keeps the poison from going to the stomach of shiv.
Now you will ask what poison. Story time, once gods and demons churned the ocean with help of a long snake and big mountain to obtain immortality potion, but the first thing came out was poison , so they had to do something with poison so they took the poison to Shiv and asked to do something about poison .
Shiv drank the poison , to help them to get the immortality potion. After drinking the potion the neck of Shiv turned blue and some say the snake is on the neck to keep the poison from going down.
Shiv is quite friendly and as long as you don't make them angry, or disturb them. When shiv get angry , they do tandav ( the dance of energy) and tandav is a dance that destroys everything, asli when shiv gets angry Thier third eye opens up, which is on Thier fore head.
Shiv's pet is Nandi the ox , so in villages there is a saying that when going somewhere in night or shady place (like jungle,Haunted places etc.) Never leave you way (earlier the way used by ox carts ) as demons never come in a Ox's way .
Shiv also carrys a musical instrument know as damru it makes sound like dum....dum.....dum
So, in conclusion , prey for shiv ( if you want to shiv don't care but there are many incentive to prey to shiv like you can smoke all the marijuana you want ) and never ever get in Thier way and how can you do that, by Minding your own business. Shiv don't care what you are .
If you want to be one with shiv , stop worrying too much, just don't disturb others and don't let them disturb you. Hope or no hope every thing is shiv , shiv is sitting on mount Kailash , wearing lion cloth and playing damru .
