Lord Shiva is not surrounded by soft, harmless creatures. His world is full of beings that humans often fear, avoid, or approach with caution. A serpent rests around his neck. A powerful bull waits at his feet. A tiger skin becomes his garment. A dog walks with his fierce form, Kaal Bhairav. A restless deer appears in his hand. Each one has a story. Each one tells us why Shiva is not a god of comfort alone, but of fear, wilderness, discipline, silence, and inner mastery.
