Shiva (/ˈʃɪvə/; Sanskrit: शिव, romanized: Śiva, lit. 'The Auspicious One' [ɕɪʋɐ]) Tamil: சிவன், also known as Mahadeva (/ˈməhɑː dɛvə/; Sanskrit: महादेव:, romanized: Mahādevaḥ, lit. 'The Great God' [mɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ]), is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. Lord Shiva is said to be the deity of death and time. In Sanskrit language, Kal means time. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism.