Shiva is worshiped as a Guru and not as a deity. Shiva is multidimensional.
Shiva was never really a person, but an all-pervading consciousness that sits deep within every animate and non-living entity of this universe. Mahadev Shiva is that void from which all creation – stars, planets, galaxies, mountains, oceans, all living beings, etc. – appear and in which the whole creation disintegrates.
There are five modes of operation of Shiva or Panch Kriyata -
1. Creation: Shiva is the creator of the universe. It is symbolized by a damru (a small two-headed damru). The vibrations produced by the sound of the damru are a metaphor for the work of creation. Everything in the universe is made up of these vibrations. These phenomena still find expression in science today as 'Big Bang Theory' and 'Superstring Theory' respectively.
2. Maintenance: The universe is maintained i.e., protected by Shiva, and made fit for life.
3. Destruction: To destroy, re-create, and start the cycle of destruction all over again, Shiva is the destroyer who destroys the universe.
4. Illusion: After creating the universe, Shiva fills it with maya (illusion). This Maya is responsible for the ignorance that we experience when we are born in this world.
5. Blessing of liberation: Moksha i.e., liberation from the cycle of birth and death can be achieved through grace. For this one must surrender himself completely to Shiva i.e., offer all the bad qualities as well as the good qualities of Shiva and become completely hollow and empty. Only then can the Shiva Tattva blossom in your life!
