<Li> Serpents: Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake . </Li> <Li> Trident: Shiva typically carries a trident called Trishula . The trident is a weapon or a symbol in different Hindu texts . As a symbol, the Trishul represents Shiva's three aspects of "creator, preserver and destroyer", or alternatively it represents the equilibrium of three Gunas of "sattva, rajas and tamas". </Li> <Li> Drum: A small drum shaped like an hourglass is known as a damaru . This is one of the attributes of Shiva in his famous dancing representation known as Nataraja . A specific hand gesture (mudra) called ḍamaru - hasta (Sanskrit for "ḍamaru - hand") is used to hold the drum . This drum is particularly used as an emblem by members of the Kāpālika sect . </Li> <Li> Axe (Parashu) and Deer are held in Shiva's hands in south Indian icons . </Li>

The popular sculpture shiva nataraja depicts shiva—or siva—as