Nataraj
Lord Shiva in the form of a Dancer is God Nataraj.Shiva is said to be performing "Tandav Nritya" by swallowing "Somrasa".

Features
In sculptures,Shiva is shown with many hands. One pair of hands, represents the balance between life and death.Shiva is three eyed, and is 'Neela Kantha' - blue-neck  since he had consumed poison to save the world from destruction.

Unclad body covered with ashes
According to some experts, Shiva’s body smeared with cemetery ash points to the philosophy of the life and death and the fact that death is the ultimate reality of the life.

Jata (Matted Hair)
The flow of his matted hair represents Shiva as the Lord of Wind or Vayu, who is the subtle form of breath present in all living beings.

Sacred Ganga
The holiest river, Ganga flows from the "Jata",matted hair of Shiva. Shiva allowed an outlet to this divine river to reach the earth and give sacred water to human being. Ganga denotes fertility.

Trinetra-Three eyes
Lord Shiva is known as the three eyed Lord or Tryambaka Deva. The sun is his right eye, the moon left while the third eye of Shiva on his forehead is the eye of wisdom. It is the eye that looks beyond the obvious. The third eye can search evil from anywhere and destroys it completely.

Half-Open Eyes
The half-open eyes show that the universes cycle is in process.When it is completely open a new cycle of Life begins.When the eyes are completely closed it signifies the end of the universe.

Shiva-Linga
It is a  symbol of  Lord Shiva, which is worshipped by the devotees Shiva temples have Shiva-Linga as the main deity.

Mahashivaratri Festival,‘The Night of Shiva’ is celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in the hindu month,Phalgun ie  February - March in English Calendar. Devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva Linga to appease Lord Shiva.

Legends of Mahashivratri
There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Maha Shivaratri.The most popular legends says, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Some believe that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’( the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction),on the day of Shivaratri.