Lord Siva - one of the main Deities of Hinduism

Shiva (Sanskrit: Auspicious One), or Siva, is one of the main Deities of Hinduism, worshipped as the paramount lord by the Saivite sects of India. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of India, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger.
Shiva was originally known as Rudra, a minor deity addressed only three times in the Rig Veda. He gained importance after absorbing some of the characteristics of an earlier fertility god and became Shiva, part of the trinity, or trimurti, with Vishnu and Brahma.

The Cult of Shiva
Shaivism, or Saivism, is one of the most popular Hindu cults. It embraces many theological practices, although all agree on three principles: pati. or God; pasu, or individual soul; and pasa, or bonds that confine the soul to earthly existence. The aim of Shaivites is to rid their souls of bondage and achieve shivata, the "nature of Shiva". They achieve this through ascetic practices and penances, with an emphasis on yoga and renunciation. Many Shaivites become wandering sadhus, or hold men. Shiavites mark their foreheads with three horizontal marks representing the three aspects of Shiva.
Shiva wears a snake coiled around his upper arms and neck symbolizing the power he has over the most deadly of creatures. Snakes are also used to symbolize the Hindu dogma of reincarnation. Their natural process of molting or shedding their skin is symbolic of the human souls transmigration of bodies from one life to another.
Thiruvalangadu, north of Madras, is associated with the dance contest between Shiva and his consort in the form of Kali. According to legend, Shiva danced vigorously, and to subdue Kali, threw up his leg in the rhythm of the dance. Being a lady, Kali could not repeat this feat and stood dismayed. This dance and the subjugation of Kali, are described in the hymns of the female saint-poet Karaikkal Ammai.
Shiva's female consort and wife is Parvati; because of his generosity and reverence towards Parvati, Shiva is considered an ideal role model for a husband. The divine couple together with their sons - the six-headed Skanda and the elephant headed Shiva - reside on Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas.
He often holds a trident, which represents the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. It is also said to represent the threefold qualities of nature: creation, preservation and destruction, although preservation is usually attributed to Vishnu.
As the destroyer Shiva is dark and terrible, encircled with serpents and a crown of skulls.
In the pictures to the right and left Shiva wears sacred Rudraksha beads, perhaps a reference to his earlier name Rudra.
The crescent moon Shiva wears on his crown, besides being a symbol of Kama the goddess of nightly love, also represents the bull, Nandi, a fertility symbol.
Shiva holds a skull that represents samsara, the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Samsara is a central belief in Hinduism. Shiva himself also represents this complete cycle because he is Mahakala the Lord of Time, destroying and creating all things.
His guardian is Nandi (the white bull), whose statue can often be seen watching over the main shrine. The bull is said to embody sexual energy, fertility. Riding on its back, Shiva is in control of these impulses.

Shiva is represented in a variety of forms. One such form is as a lingam. The ovoid shape is a representation of the absolute perfection of Lord Shiva - if that which is beyond form had to be given form, the lingam would be the closest form to the mystical experience of the absolute perfection of Shiva.

July 8 and 9 - worhipping Lord Siva

July 8 and 9 are very significant days that you do not want to miss. This is the day when Lord Siva creates a new code of conduct for righteous living in his form as Nataraj, the Dancing Siva. There are only 4 or 5 days throughout the entire year when this ritual is performed for Nataraj at Chidambaram temple. During the Tamil month of Ani (June - July) Lord Siva performs the dance of ecstacy and on this day by worhipping Lord Siva and surrending at His feet helps one to wipe out the sins.

Chidambaram is one of the most ancient and most celebrated of shrines in India. It is of great religious as well as historic and cultural significance. Chidambaram is associated with Nataraja, or Siva in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the cosmic golden hall and the hall of consciousness. Siva is also worshipped in the "formless form" of the Chidambara Rahasyam, while the temple is known for its Akasa Lingam, an embodiment of Siva as the formless Space. The word "Koyil" or temple in the Vedic tradition refers to none other than the Chidambaram Nataraja temple.
The dance of bliss, or the Ananda Tandavam of Siva is said to symbolize the five divine acts (pancha krityas) of creation, sustenance, dissolution, concealment and bestowment of grace.

This is also a great time to start wearing the Rudraksha beads which are known to clean all your sins. The beads are said to bring abundance and prosperity to the person wearing it. Rudraksha Beads represents Lord Siva, the symbol of auspiciousness. Lord Siva gives spiritual evolution. This mala helps in strengthening the balance between spirituality and materiality in one's life. It also bestows good health and peace.

The Rudraksha mala when worn helps with blood pressure and cardiac problems. This mala is also used at the time of meditation. This rudraksha mala is stung in silver and the beads are covered with silver caps.
Nataraj, the dancing form of Lord Shiva, is a symbolic synthesis of the most important aspects of Hinduism. The term 'Nataraj' means 'King of Dancers' (Sanskrit nata = dance; raja = king). The upper right hand holds a small drum. This signifies the origination of sound, Creation. The upper left hand contains fire symbolizes destruction. The two contradictory concepts in the upper hands show the counterpoise of creation and destruction. The second right hand shows the Abhaya sign meaning fearlessness, bestowing protection from both evil and ignorance to those who follow the righteousness or justice. The second left hand points towards the raised foot which signifies upliftment and salvation. The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is the demon and this symbolises Shiva's victory over ignorance. As the King of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs the cosmic dance, the dance in which the universe is created, maintained, and resolved, Shiva's long, matted tresses, usually piled up in a knot, loosen during the dance and crash into the heavenly bodies destroying them competely. The surrounding flames represent the manifestation of the Universe. The snake swirling around his waist is kundalini, the divine force that is to reside within everything. The stoic face of Shiva represents his neutrality, thus being in balance.