Good, benevolent, friendly, merciful, rich in blessings.
As third of the
trimurti Shiva is the god of destruction, transformation and dissolution; his function as destroyer of ignorance however shows his blessfull nature.
His symbol is the linga, oft shown together with the yoni, the symbol of his consort
Shakti.
Family.
He is worshipped as
Guru of all gurus.
Other names for Shiva are:
Bholonath,
Gangadhara,
Hara,
Kala,
Mahadeva,
Sadguru,
Shambhu,
Shankara and
Tryambakam.