Lord Shiva
The Yogi God
Lord Shiva is the mystic-yogi god. He likes to spend most of his time alone up in the mountains meditating. He owns little except for a trident, a tiger-skin rug, and a water pot. He is covered in ashes and wears little. His most devoted followers in India try to take after him. His followers sometimes wear three horizontal lines across the forehead (Shivite tilak).
God of Destruction and Regeneration
Shiva is in charge of the function of the destruction of outworn forms so this can lead to regeneration, thus he is the god of destruction. His third eye is able to burn to ashes anything that it glances at. Sometimes he is pictured in deity form as dancing with a ring of fire surrounding him, which is one of the most well known Hindu deity forms for non-Hindus.
Important Wife
Shiva's wife is Parvati. She is his second wife as his first wife, Sati, burnt herself to death. Parvati also becomes Durga and then Kali in order to kill various demons.
God of the Lingam
A lingam which represents the regenerative (fertile) powers of Shiva is an important symbol for Shivities, or those who consider Shiva God. Shivities worship the lingam, mostly by pouring various food substances over it.
A Very Generous God
Shiva is known for being very generous and easy to please for those who pray to him. He tends to grant boons to anyone which later on cause great problems for the gods and goddesses.