Major Hindu deity with non-Vedic origins, and the principal deity of the Shaivism sect. In mainstream Hinduism, Shiva appears in a trinity alongside Brahma and Vishnu and is attributed with destructive or transformative power. Other names for Shiva include Mahadeva and Shankara. His most common iconographical form is the aniconic, phallic lingam. Examples of other forms include: Mahayogi (the ascetic); Nataraja (the dancer); Neelkantha (the blue-throated one); or Ardhanarishvara, the androgynous amalgamation of Shiva and his goddess consort Parvati. He is often shown with the trishul (trident), damru (drum), naga (serpent), jata (matted hair locks), crescent moon and third eye. The cult of Shiva has its roots in prehistoric cults in which phallic worship was common. The word shiva initially appeared as an adjective meaning ‘auspicious’ in the Rigveda; eventually, as non-Vedic cults were assimilated into Brahmanism, Shiva was identified with the Vedic deity Rudra and was given a prominent place in the Brahmanical pantheon.