Shiva is one of the three major deities of Hinduism. Shiva is distinct from Vishnu and Brahma yet one with them. He is Anant, one who is neither found born nor found dead. He is the Greatest of the Gods within Shaivism, one of the three most influential denominations in contemporary Hinduism.He is one of the five primary forms of God in the Smarta Tradition,and "the Transformer".
At the highest level, Shiva is regarded as limitless, transcendent, unchanging and formless. Shiva also has many benevolent and fearsome forms.
