Shiva

From Final Fantasy Wiki

Shiva may refer to:

• The recurring summon.
• The boss from Final Fantasy VI.
• The boss from Final Fantasy X-2.
• The server from Final Fantasy XI.
• The airship from Final Fantasy XII.
• The boss from Crystal Defenders.
• The boss from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King.

[edit] Etymology

Shiva shares her name with the Hindu god, Shiva (also spelled Śiva). The Hindi Shiva once saved the world by consuming poison, giving him/her blue skin around the area of the neck and throat. It should also be mentioned that Shiva is a god of duality, meaning Shiva is both male and female (though more often thought of as male), as well as god of life and death. Also, in paintings Shiva was frequently mistaken for a woman due to his long hair and facial features. It is believed that he also periodically destroys the world then re-creates it. There is a possibility that the name was simply the Japanese way of pronouncing the word "Shiver", which is a possibility given her icy nature. Another possibility is the reference to the Slavic goddess Živa, the goddess of love and fertility. This may explain why Shiva is portrayed as the ice goddess.