Shiva, the last of the Trinities is the God of destruction & he is assisted in this by his consort Parvati, the Goddess of disintegration. Parvati represents Prakriti, which means perishable matter, in the absence of which true and complete destruction by Shiva becomes impossible. (As we are all aware of today, only bio – degradable matter can be destroyed). This could possibly be the meaning of the idea that Shiva becomes nothing in the absence of Shaki. Shiva is generally worshipped in the form of the phallus (Linga) fixed on a pedestal. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed & the Linga symbolizes this scientific fact. The Linga denotes the primeval energy of the Creator. At the end of Creation all Gods find their resting place in the Linga – Brahma being absorbed into the right, Vishnu being absorbed into the left & Gayatri Devi being absorbed into the heart of the Linga.