Sacred Animals
Snakes, especially cobras can be seen around Shiva's neck, slithering down his body, reflecting his absolute renunciation, his refusal to react or respond to any threat or temptation. He is Nageshvar, lord of the serpents.

One of Shiva's emblems is the peacock. Like Shiva, the peacock has a blue neck, a crest on the top of its head like Shiva's moon. When Shiva takes the form of a kiraata, a tribal, he often wears a peacock feather in his hair, and becomes Shikhandesh, lord of the plume. It is said Shiva dances like a peacock surrounded by his ganas at the end of an aeon when he becomes the devourer of Time, Kalantaka.

Shiva's insignia is a bull, a vrishabha, called Nandi, a symbol of restrained power.

Shiva holds in his hand an antelope, said to be Ushas, who sought his protection as Brahma chased her. The antelope represents all creatures under Shiva's protection and grace. It is also a symbolic representation of the restless mind brought under control by the practice of yoga.

Though people look upon dogs as foul and inauspicious, they are dear to Shiva. When he wanders across the world as a beggar, dogs often accompany him.

Weapons
Shiva is the lord of the martial arts, Vireshvar, who gave Vishnu the sudarshan chakra discus; Ravan the chandrahasa sword; the warrior-priest Parashurama his parashu axe and Arjun the pasupata missile. Shiva is the prototype of the cosmic warrior who wields the bows known as Pinaka and Ajagava.

Shiva always carries a trident, trishul, whose three prongs are said to represent the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshvar.

With his nose, pasa, Shiva, the Pashupati tames and controls his pashus, all the creatures of the cosmos, ourselves included.

Shiva once entered a cropse and resurrected it. The resurrected corpse became a teacher of occult doctrines. As he carried a staff, a lakuli, he came to be known as Lakulisha. The staff became a symbol of his sholarship and discipline, his ability to restrain his aroused manhood.